AUT. 19. NEW SPECIES OF FISHES FOWLER AND BEAN. 13 



Type.—C^i. No. 83422, U.S.N.M., Fiji or Samoa. Wilkes Explor- 

 ing Expedition. 



Though listed from Fiji or Samoa, the original label simply gives 

 Fiji. It approaches S. choram (Forskal) and S. crocodila (Le 

 Sueur) in a general way, but the sculpturing on the head above is 

 more prominent, and in fact more so than in any species of the genus 

 we examined. The entirely naked opercles are also features not 

 noticed in the other species. The origin of the anal appears slightly 

 abortiA'e, possibly damaged at some time, and therefore the species 

 may normally have 1 or 2 more anal rays. 



(AvXos, channel; KecpaXri, head; with reference to the depression on 



top of the head.) 



STRONGYLURA FIJIENSE. new species. 



Head, 3i; depth, 1^- in postocular; D. ii, 22; A. ii, 16: P. I, 12; 

 V. 1,5: scales about 450 from shoulder to caudal base and 12 more 

 on latter ; about 325 scales before dorsal to head ; preorbital process 

 to eye 5^ in rest of beak, width about equals its length; eye 2^ in 

 postocular; interorbital If. Body compressed moderately, though 

 sides slightly cylindrical. Caudal peduncle compressed, width three- 

 fourths its least depth, which is If in eye. Head with flattened sides 

 moderately constricted below, width If in postocular. Jaws not 

 completely closing for at least basal fourth of beak. Eye close to 

 upper profile and combined with postocular 2§ in beak. Maxillary 

 concealed, narrow, extends slightly beyond eye front, though not 

 quite to pupil. Outer band of fine teeth of moderate width, minute, 

 close set, sharp pointed. Inner row of well-spaced larger teeth 

 become much smaller toward end of jaws. Triangular nasal cavity 

 Ii in pupil. Moderately broad interorbital level, with narrow 

 median shallow depression, broadening and deeper behind eye to 

 occiput, though no lateral postocular depression. Gill opening ex- 

 tends forward opposite hind nasal cavity edge. Few slight rudi- 

 mentary tubercles substitute for gill-rakers. Gill filaments 1* in 

 eye. Scales extremely small, crowded closely, adherent, not extend- 

 ing on dorsal and anal, though caudal base scaly. Scales with 17 to 

 28 basal and 30 to 52 apical circuli, usually vertical, parallel and un- 

 connected. Cheeks with 24 scales to preopercle ridge, beyond which 

 6 more, though none on opercle. Slight branch from lateral line 

 extends upward toward pectoral base, and moderate keel alongside 

 of caudal peduncle and caudal base. Dorsal origin a little behind 

 anal origin or about last third between pectoral origin and caudal 

 base, front lobe of fin about 3^? in its length (last ray damaged). 

 Anal similar, though base of last ray distant from caudal base for 

 space slightly greater than postocular. Caudal (damaged) ap- 

 parently emarginate. Pectoral (damaged) slightly longer than post- 



