BY W. MACLEAY, F.L.S. 373 



Genus Histioptertjs, Eichards. 



It is with, some doubt that I ]}\ace this genus among the 

 Pristipomina. Dr. Gunther makes no mention of the genus in 

 his Catalogue, but when in 1871 he described a species of it in 

 the Proc. Zool. Soc. of London, he placed it between a Dentex 

 and a Chcdtodo)i, indicating, I fancy, that in his oj)inion that was 

 its true position. Count Castelnau places it among the Scomlrida, 

 and Eichardson the founder of the genus among the Chcetodontidce. 



I have never seen any description of the genus, but it may be 

 shortly defined thus : Body oblong, highest at the occiput, and 

 tapering towards the tail. Head prolonged into a slightly 

 recurved snout. Teeth villiform, forming bands; dorsal fin 

 with seven or eight spines the first three short and more or less 

 detached ; anal spines two or three. 



156. HisTioPTERrs reotjrvirostris, Eich. 



Voy. Ereb and Terror, p. 34, pi. 22. Casteln. Proc. Zool. Soc. 

 Victoria, I., p. 109. 



D. 8. 1/15. A. 3/10. L. lat. 130. 



Height of body three times and a-half in the total length, head 

 three times and a-half in the same ; the orbit four times and a 

 third in the length of the head. The greatest height of the body 

 is at the back of the head, from this there is gradual conical 

 diminution to the tail ; the head isprolonged into a long narrow 

 snout, half the length of the head. The head is covered with 

 bony plates which are strongly striated ; the teeth are numerous, 

 in several series, some of those in front longer and a little curved ; 

 lateral line sinuous ; scales small. The spines of the dorsal fin 

 are seldom united by a membrane, the fourth is the longest ; the 

 soft dorsal and anal of triangular form; caudal slightly emarginate; 

 ventrals very large ; pectorals rather long. Colour above greyish- 

 blue, beneath whitish, a broad black arched band extends from 

 the beginning of the dorsal to the end of the anal fin, sometimes 



