46 



BULLETIN 30, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Drawing- Ko. 2 is similar to the last, but the yellow color of the 

 anterior portion of the sitle is dull and grayish. The light area back of 

 the dorsal fin is white, as in Professor Fischer's figure of fiisus. A 

 black band starts from the lower side of the tail, as in Professor 

 Fischer's figure of souverbianus, but reaches the line of the anterior 

 base of the dorsal fin. The lateral lines are light gray. 



Drawings Nos. 3 and 4 represent, respectively, a female and male 

 taken at the same time. 



The female resembles Fischer's figure of moschatus (PI. v, Fig. 1), 

 but the lower jaw is dark-greenish gray, which color extends to and 

 includes the pectoral. The pinkish white of the belly does not extend 

 back of the anus nor above the level of the* pectoral fin. All the upper 

 portion of the side is of a nearly uniform dark gray traversed by a 

 narrow band of lighter gray. 



The male is like the female, except that the lower half of the body, 

 from about the base of the pectoral fin to and beyond the anus, is of a 

 uniform light gray. 



The photograph represents one female like fusus, but with a light 

 band at the base of the beak like that in variegaUis. 



Another specimen which I examined had a large area in the center 

 of the dorsal fin nearly pure white. 



From these five specimens we would be compelled, following Lafont's 

 opinions, to describe three additional species. Such a course appears 

 to nie far from advisable. I am strongly of the opinion that these dif- 

 ferences of color are to be looked upon as individual variations. The 

 fact that we do not assign them distinct specific names does not imply 

 that we look upon such variations as void of interest. 



I shall next consider the cranial characters and proportions of the 

 species. 



M. Fischer states that the male has a longer and narrower beak than 

 the female. His tables give the following proportions : 



Dv.lpliinus diljihis. FemaJa. (From Fischer.) 



* AI. Fi.scher hm-ing taken hi.s measurements of the total length from the foramen 

 niagnuu), while mine are fionitlio surface of tliocDudyles, I liave added 1.3"" in eacli 

 case to make the raeasurcraents agree. 



