PISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE AND ADJACENT SEAS 69 



Iris neutral, with several blue-gray bars, spots or lines. Blue black 

 blotch on opercle about size of pupil below origin of lateral line. 

 Upper border of back all speckled or mottled with azure, and chest 

 breast and belly with blue spots, rather large and below disposed as 

 several longitudinal rows to form streaks. Anal base and adjacent 

 region of tail with white azure spots. Each scale along middle of 

 sides with deep brown median streak or band, vertically followed by 

 an azure one, producing vertically streaked appearances. Spinous 

 dorsal neutral blue, with some azure lines terminally. Several azure 

 bars basally to each membrane and several median vertical lines to 

 each membrane medially. Soft dorsal and anal more neutral gray 

 and inconspicuously with azure spots and lines, obsolete terminally. 

 Both dorsals and anals rather dusky terminally. Caudal dull or pale 

 brownish, also paired fins. 



Red Sea and East Africa to the East Indies and Tahiti. In its 

 pleasing design and delicate shades of blue this is easily the gem of 

 the family. Its variations are usually slight and specimens are 

 mostly quite uniform. 



2 examples, Bumbum Island. September 25, 1909. Length, 54 to GO mm. j 



1 example, Cagayan. January 8, 1909. Length, 89 mm. ! 



1 example, Galera Bay, Mindoro. June 9, 1908. Length, 80 mm. 



4 examples, Gomomo Island. December 3, 1909. Length, 52 to 76 mm. 



9 examples, Mactau Cove, Mactan Island. April 6, 1908. Length, 76 to 108 mm. 



1 example, Murcielagos Bay. August 9, 1909. Length. To mm. 



35 examples, Pandanon Island. March 23, 1909. Length, 50 to 90 mm. 



5 examples, Philippines. Length, 43 to 78 mm. [308 to 310.] Bright indigo- 

 blue, showing mainly as central areas on scales, margins paler ; on anterior 

 portion of body and head blue appears as blotches and stripes on olive-green 

 ground ; slate-black blotch size of pupil at upper angle of pectoral ; belly 

 pale, without marks. Dorsal bluish, spinous tips bright blue, 3 or 4 paler 

 broken bars lower ; vertical edge of dorsal with pale yellowish blotch. 

 Caudal pale yellow and dusky. Anal pale slaty, blue rays washed with 

 greenish. Ventral dusky-greenish, hyaline ; pectoral pale yellow. Vent black. 

 Iris dark. 



2 examples. Port Matalvi, Luzon. November 23, 1908. Length, 55 to 81 mm. 

 [714, 718.] 



20051. Romblou. March 26, 1908. Length, 82 mm. 



1 example, Tataan, Simaluc Island. February 20, 1908. Length, 94 mm. 

 [163.] Sapphire-blue confined to vertical bar on each scale with gray 

 ground ; on front or nuchal region and head, longitudinal lines. Dorsal 

 body-color, yellowish blotch on vertical part. Caudal yellowish, dusky at 

 base. Anal blue. Ventral pale, yellowish at tip. Pectoral lemon-yellow, 

 bluish on first ray. Iris spotted as head. 



1 example, Tomahu Island. December 11, 1909. Length, 89 mm. 



8 examples, Tumindao Island. February 26, 1908. Length, 88 to 102 mm. 



20333 and 20334. Tutu Bay, Jolo. September 19, 1909. Length, 90 to 100 mm. 



3 examples, Basa Reef, Gulf of Boiii, Celebes, Dutch East Indies. December 

 17, 1909. Length, 29 to 39 mm. 



52309 U.S.N.M. Apia. Samoa. Bureau of Fisheries. 12 examples. Length, 

 27 to 66 mm. 



