REVIEW OF THE HAWKFISHES — RANDALL 439 



This cirrhitid has the greatest kiiOAVii range of the family, occurring 

 throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific and eastern Pacific. There are 

 specimens in the U.S. National Museum from the Red Sea (collected 

 by D, S. Erdman); Christmas Island (Indian Ocean), East Indies, 

 Philippines, Fiji, Solomon Islands (collected by W. M. Chapman); 

 Gilbert Islands and Marquesas (collected by the author); Marshall 

 Islands (collected by D. W. Strasburg); Phoenix Islands; Gorgona 

 Island and Port Utria (Colombia), Panama, Costa Rica, and Cocos 

 Island (collected by W. L. Schmitt) ; and Clipperton Island (collected 

 by W. J. Baldwin). 



A hawkfish from Christmas Island, Line Islands (B. P. Bishop 

 Museum 4129) which was identified as Paracirrhites cinctus by 

 Fowler (1927, p. 18) was sent to the author by E. H. Bryan, Jr. 

 Although m poor condition, it could be identified as G. oxycephalus. 



A 33-mm. specimen of oxycephalus from Madras, India, sent on loan 

 by A. C. Wlieeler of the British Museum (No. 1889.2.1.3033) bears the 

 name Cirrhitichthys stictos Day. No publication could be found 

 which lists stictos, and it is probably only a manuscript name. 



The 3 Red Sea specimens that were examined appear differentiated 

 from the species elsewhere m its range by havmg a maxillary which 

 extends almost to a vertical at the center of the eye, shorter dorsal 

 spines, and shorter pectoral fuis (extending only slightly posterior to 

 a vertical at end of pelvic fuis). Two of the specimens have pelvic 

 fins which do not reach the anus. 



Largest specimen examined, 70 mm. in standard length. This 

 specimen was collected with a spear in 8 feet of water from a small 

 head of Pocillopora in Anaho Bay, Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands. 



Cirrhitichthys aureus (Temminck and Schlegel) 



Figure 30 



Cirrhites aureus Temminck and Schlegel, 1843, Pisces, in Siebold, Fauna Ja- 

 ponica . . ., p. 15, pi. 7, fig. 2 (type locality, Nagasaki, Japan). 



Cirrhites gibbosus Guichenot, 1869, Nouv. Arch. Mus. Hist. Nat., Paris, vol. 5, 

 p. 199, pi. 12, fig. 2 (type locality, Macao, China). 



Cirrhitichthys aureus Jordan and Herre, 1907, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. 33, 

 p. 161, fig. 1 (southern Japan and China). 



Cirrhitichthys aureus Fowler, 1931, Hong Kong Nat., vol. 2, p. 306 (Hong Kong). 



Diagnosis. — Dorsal rays X,12; anal rays 111,6; pectoral rays 

 i,7,vi or i,6,vii; lateral-line scales 40 to 44; 3 rows of large scales above 

 lateral line in middle of body; 10 scales below lateral line to origin of 

 anal fin; gill rakers 4 to 6 + 1 + 9 (7 specimens, Japan and China). 



Depth of body 2.2 to 2.5 in standard length; snout 3.4 to 3.6 in 

 head length; longest dorsal spine 2.2 to 2.6 in depth; bony interorbital 

 space about 1.6 in eye of adults; median anterior part of interorbital 

 space and region between nostrils scaled; profile of head, excluding 



