594 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. loi 



with my discussion of A. lineolata. The blackish, circular spot at 

 the base of the caudal fin in Smith's specimen is distinct and small, 

 its diameter about four times in the least depth of the caudal pe- 

 duncle, so it is perceptibly smaller than in specimens of lineolata from 

 the East Indies and Philippine Islands. His specimens may repre- 

 sent a distinctly new form. The spot in Smith's figure of macro'pterus^ 

 however, measures about three times in the depth of the caudal 

 peduncle. 



The account of lineolata by Smith (ibid., p. 209) lists the anal fin rays 

 as ranging from II, 13 to 17 and his figure may be interpreted as hav- 

 ing either II, 14 or II, 15 anal rays, with a distinct spot at the base 

 of the caudal fin, its depth about three times in the least depth of 

 the caudal peduncle. The range of the anal fin rays almost certainly 

 refers to both lineolata and fucata. The size and intensity of the cau- 

 dal spot are characteristic of lineolata. Sufficient specimens are not 

 available from the east African area to determine whether his ac- 

 count refers to lineolata.^ fucata^ or both. 



STUDIES OF THE APOGON BANDANENSIS GROUP 



This group is distinguished from other species of Apogon by the 

 combination of the following characters: Dorsal fin rays VII-I, 9; 

 anal rays II, 8 ; pectoral rays 12 to 14 ; lateral line scales 22 to 26 ; 

 total number of gill rakers raiiiging from 23 to 30; palatines with 

 villiform teeth; posterior margin of preopercle serrated, anterior 

 margin of preopercle not serrated ; lateral line complete ; third spine 

 of spinous dorsal longest ; caudal fin emarginate or slightly forked ; 

 a band, saddle, or saddlelike spot on peduncle at base of caudal fin ; 

 a characteristic mark, narrow and elongate or triangular shaped (fig. 

 105, a and h) from eye to angle of anterior margin of preopercle ; body, 

 head, and fins otherwise without stripes or bars. 



The data derived from a careful study of collections in the United 

 States National Museum indicate that more than two species were 

 confused and included in this group by relatively recent workers. An 

 examination of the collections concerned in such studies as Fowler 

 and Bean (1930, pp. 40-44), Jordan and Seale (1906, pp. 239-240), 

 and Schultz (1943, pp. 92 and 95) revealed the presence of more than 

 one species. Four species are now recognized. The group is dis- 

 tinctly divisible into two categories : 1, Species with a large triangular 

 mark below the eye (fig. 105, a) ; 2, a species with a narrow, elongate 

 almost rectangular mark below the eye (fig. 105, &). The following 

 species with a triangular mark below the eye are recognized : Apogon 

 erdmani^ new species, Apogon handanensis Bleeker, and Apogon 

 savayensis Giinther. In the latter category Apogon nubilus Garman 



