1 J 8 A Collection of Fishes from Samoa. 



alike. Snout convex on dorsal surface, slightly so in profile, length about three-fifths 

 its width. Eye large, impinging on upper profile, posterior edge about midway in 

 head length. Mouth large, well inclined, lower jaw slightly included. Maxillary 

 extends beyond posterior edge of pupil, not quite to posterior edge of eye, expansion 

 little less than pupil. Villiform bands of teeth in jaws and on vomer, none on palatines. 

 Tongue elongated, rounded tip free. Nostrils together, directly in front of eye. 

 Interorbital level. Preopercle edge entire. Rakers 1+6 short points, about equal 

 to filaments, which one-third of eye. Scales large, Httle smaller along body edges, 

 and 2 rows on cheek. Basal radiating strise 13 or 14; apical denticles 80 to 90; circuli 

 fine. Lateral line of 5 well-exposed, simple tubes first, then only as row of pores to 

 caudal base, one in center of each scale exposure, and all concurrent largely with dorsal 

 profile. Third dorsal spine longest, reaches back to soft dorsal origin. Soft dorsal 

 and anal alike, opposite, rather elongate, height of former slightly less than half of 

 head. Caudal rounded. Pectoral reaches anal origin, ventral little shorter. 



Color in alcohol deep brick-brown, with 9 vertical cross-bars, twice width of pale 

 interspaces. Head mottled brownish, \\ith pale lilac tint on mandible and branchi- 

 ostegal region. I^arge jet-black, round blotch, little less than eye, though larger than 

 pupil and margined narrowly with golden-brown. Small, black crescent above 

 opercular spot. Pale bar from eye to preopercle angle, lower edge dusky. Each 

 scale on caudal peduncle with median dusky blotch, rather small, though distinct. 

 Two rows of scales between pectoral and ventral bases on side of abdomen, with slightly 

 oblique, narrow dusky line. Fins all dusky-red. Iris brownish. 



Length 47 mm. 



Also smaller examples same locahty. Head 2.5; depth 2.87; D. VII-I, 9; A. II, S; 

 scales about 21 in lateral hue to caudal base and 2 more on latter; snout 3.75 in head; 

 eye 3.33; maxillary 1.8; interorbital 4; length 33 mm. This approaches Apogonichthys 

 isostigma Jordan and Seale, in the more spotted appearance, which possibly may not 

 be distinct from A. marmoratus Alleyne and Macleay, as the black spots on the trunk 

 seem to be the chief character of distinction. 



Both from cove just south of Aua village, April 5, 1917. 



SERRANIDiE. 



Epinephelus merra Bloch. 

 Two young examples from cove just south of Aua village. It differs from the 

 adult stage in the much larger dark blotches. 



Pharopteryx nigricans Riippell. 



Two small examples, from tide-pools near Double Point, just west of entrance to 



Pago Pago Harbor. One example from Pago Pago. All show D. XII. Length 



48 to 57 mm. 



Pharopteryx melas (Bleeker). 



Two from cove just south of Aua village. In alcohol, Iwdy dusky-bro\\Ti generally, 

 clouded with blackish. Head same, Httle paler below. Iris slaty. Bases of vertical 

 fins pale or largely whitish, all broadly blackish about outer or terminal portions. 

 Spinous dorsal edge, together with upper soft dorsal edge, especially in front, orange. 

 Pectoral and ventral brownish. Length 50 to 55 mm. 



One 35 mm. long, same locaUty. All have D. XL 



OPISTHOGNATHID^. 



Gnathypops samoensis new species. Fig. 1. 

 Head 2.75; depth 3.33; D. VII, 20; A. Ill, 17; P. 15; V. I, 5; scales from shoulder to 

 median caudal base about 50, and 10 more on latter; 31 tubes in lateral line; 4 scales 

 above lateral line to soft dorsal origin; 22 scales in vertical series below lateral line to 



