NOTE ON NEOAXTHIAS GUENTHERI. Casteln. 

 By J. Douglas-Ogilby, 



Assistant Zoologist, Australian Museum. 



On the 13tli of last month we received at the Museum a fine 

 specimen of this fish, which had been caught at the Heads during 

 the previous night; it measured \1\ inches, and proved to be a 

 male with the milt well-developed, and being perfectly fresh when 

 it came into my hands, I had the best possible opportunity of 

 describing it and of noting down its beautiful coloration. 



A slightly larger example of Giinther's Anthias loiigimanus was 

 also captured at the same time and place, and was sent up to the 

 Museum along with the Neoanthias ; the similarity of physiognomy 

 between the two fishes is so striking that I made a careful descrip- 

 tion of this specimen also, more especially when I found that it was 

 a female with well developed ova. 



The result of my examination is that I fail to find any appreciable 

 structural difference between the two forms, and as difi:erence in 

 color alone cannot be relied on as specific in this vertebrate class, 

 I am of opinion that the fishes described by Giinther, and Castelnau 

 respectively are identical in species, but diff'erent in sex. 



Dr. Giincher (Cat., Vol. I., p. 88), hints at the advisability of 

 separating his A. longimanus, and certain other forms, from the 

 typical Anthiads, and in this suggestion I am disposed to agree, 

 nor have we far to look for a generic title suitable to these forms. 

 If we turn to the Fauna Japonica, p. 64, pi. 30, we will find a fish 

 described and figured by Schlegeh under the generic name of 

 Caprodon, which is easily recognisable as identical with Castelnau's 

 Neoanthias ; and since we know from the lettei'-press that Schlegel's 

 description was taken from a mounted specimen which, as remarked 

 by Giinther — p. 94 — is evidently imperfect, having but five 



