234 FISHES OF NE"W GUINEA, 



the anterior third of the eye ; the praeoperculum is" strongly 

 serrated on the angle which is rather acutely rounded, the 

 emargination above it is large but very shallow, and receives a 

 swelling of the suboperculum ; the first dorsal spine is very short, 

 the fourth and fifth are the longest, the second anal spine is 

 much thicker than the third ; the caudal fin is very slightly 

 emarginate, the pectoral fins are pointed and reach almost to the 

 first anal spine, the ventaals are shorter ; the scales of the body 

 are large, smooth, and rather deciduous. The colouration seems 

 to have been dark on the back and sides, every scale having a 

 dark centre, the lower part of the sides and the belly seem to 

 have been silvery or pearly with a yellowish tinge ; the head 

 silvery, the dorsal, anal and caudal fins darkish, and the pectorals 

 and ventrals yellow. 



I have only one specimen of this fish and it is without a label. 

 In the size of the scales and its general appearance it is unlike 

 any Mesoprwn I have hitherto seen. Length 20 inches. 



30. Mesoprion parvidens, n. sp. 



D. 10/16. A. 3/8. L. lat. about 58. 



Form compressed ; height of body one-half of the total length 

 excluding the caudal fin, profile steep and straight ; snout short, 

 one and a half diameter of the orbit from the eye ; the maxillary 

 reaches to the vertical from the anterior margin of the eye ; the 

 teeth are small, the canines included ; the eyes are about one 

 diameter apart, the space between slightly convex ; the posterior 

 limb of the prseoperculum is straight andfiaely serrated, the angle 

 is more strongly serrated, and a little above it there is a deep notch 

 receiving a knob of the interoperculum ; the opercular spines are 

 indistinct ; the fourth and fifth dorsal spines are the longest ; the 

 soft dorsal, caudal and anal fins are covered with small scales for 

 about half their length, the third anal ray is the longest, giving 

 a pointed appearance to the fin, the second spine is stronger and 

 slightly longer than the third ; the pectoral fins are elongate and 



