768 ZOOLOGY OF NEW CALEDONIA, 



noticeable, even though the latter author allows such an excep- 

 tionally wide margin of variation in some of the characters* as 

 to lead to the belief that two or even more species are associated 

 together under the name 7'upestris. In fact, further evidence than 

 that adduced, even by so excellent an authority as Dr. Boulenger, 

 is necessary before we can fully accept his determination of the 

 identity of the five species described by Cuvier and Valenciennes. 

 I may point out that _ Dr. Jordan, certainly as great an authority 

 on fishes as any, does not admit the identity of the eastern 

 Pacific K. avye with K. tifiiiima, though conceding its affinity, 

 and that the difference in the size of the eye, relied upon by him, 

 is not nearly so marked as in Boulenger's K. rupeslris.j 



While, therefore, the characters relied on by Boulenger in liis 

 analysis are accurately represented in our species, the following 

 constant differences between the New Caledonian iish and the 

 Queensland K. haswellii, Macleay (considered by Boulenger to be 

 identical with rapesti'is), of which I have examined the types, 

 may be noticed : — 



Depth of body 2^ to 2| in the total length; width of inter- 

 orljital region 3^ to 3| in the length of the head ; vertical limb 

 of preopercle smooth from just above the angle; fifth dorsal spine 

 'l^Q to 2i in the head; last dorsal spine nearly as long as the fifth; 

 third anal spine much longer than the second, 1;^ to If in the 

 longest ray; ventral reaching somewhat beyond the vent; pectoral 

 a little longer than the ventral ; upper surface of head without 

 conspicuous rugosities. 



Length 130 millimeters ... ... ... ... ItedUyi. 



* The foUowiaf;; may be taken as instances of the variation referred to : — 

 " Diameter of eye 3J to 5 in the length of the head; longest dorsal spine 

 ^ to f length of head," &c. (Boulenr/e)-, Cafal. FUh. i. p. 37, 1895). 



fl trust that I shall be pardoned for remarking that much unnecessary 

 trouble would be avoided and much of the disability, under which colonial 

 biologists and others similarly placed as regards the want of books of 

 reference rest, would be removed, if when giving the synonymy of a genus 

 Dr. Boulenger had mentioned the type of each generic name. This little 

 addition, so easy to him with the British Museum Library at his hand, so 

 exceedingly difficult to us, would greatly increase the value of the cata- 

 logues to those workers who have not his facilities for reference. 



