BY WILLIAM MACLEAY, F.L.S. 61 



Among the spirit specimens I find fourteen species of Fishes, 

 and as but little is known or has been written of the Natural 

 History of this group of islands, I propose in this paper to make 

 a few observations on them, both as regards their specific 

 characters and geographical distribution. I may mention that Dr. 

 Grunther has, in "Brenchley's Voyage of the Ouracoa," given the 

 names of 68 species of Fishes, said to have been found at the 

 Solomon Islands, and it is very remarkable that not one of them 

 is to be found in the small collection now before me for 

 description. 



1. Mesoprion attreovittatus, n. sp. 



D. 10/12 A. 3/8 L. lat. 45. 

 Height of body one-fourth of the total length, length of head 

 slightly more than the height of the body. Eyes large, distant 

 from the snout about one diameter of the orbit, and rather less 

 than one diameter apart. The head is flat between the eyes, and 

 slopes gradually to the snout ; the maxillary extends to nearly 

 opposite the middle of the eye ; the lower jaw is slightly longer 

 than the upper, the outer row of teeth in the lower jaw are 

 rather large, acute, and number about six on each side, in the 

 upper jaw there are only two canines ; vomerine teeth on a strong 

 subtriangular protuberance. Preeorbital without scales, rough 

 and covered with pores. Cheek covered with small scales, 

 praeopercidum with seven or eight small equidistant teeth at the 

 angle which is rounded, and with a very distinct elongate 

 emargination just above the angle. Spines of the first dorsal 

 fin slender and longer than in M. Johiius, the fifth and sixth 

 being nearly half the height of the body. The pectoral fins 

 reach the anus. The tail is broad, expanding, and slightly 

 emarginate. The colour above the lateral line is dark and bluish, 

 below it silvery with three golden longitudinal stripes ; a large 

 black blotch occupies a space on the lateral line from opposite 

 the eighth dorsal spine, to the sixth dorsal ray. The fins are 



