162 BULLETIN 10 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



p. 469 (Rio Pasig, Manila). — Steindachner, Abh. Senckenberg. Naturf. 

 Ges., vol. 25, 1900, p. 415 (Oba River, Halmaheira). 

 Ambassis vaivasensis Jordan and Seale, Bull. Bur. Fisher., vol. 25, 1905 

 (1906), p. 254, fig. 47. Vaivase River, Apia, Samoa. — Fowler, Bishop 

 Mus. Bull., No. 22, 1925, p. 32 (Samoa); Mem. Bishop Mus., vol. 10, 

 192S, p. 166 (Apia and Fiji?). 



Depth 2% to 2%; head 2\i to 2%, width 2\i to 2^. Snout 4^ 

 to 4% in head from snout tip; eye 2}/$ to 3, much greater than snout 

 or interorbital; maxillary reaches Y^ in eye, expansion 5, length 2% 

 to 2% in head from snout tip; teeth very minute, in narrow bands 

 in jaws, on vomer and palatines and narrow median band on tongue; 

 interorbital 43/3 to 4%, slightly convex; postero-supraorbital ridge 

 with 1 or 2 serrae; lower preorbital edge with 7 or 8 serrae and 

 nearly same number of less distinct ones on preorbital keel; lower 

 preopercle edge and keel finely serrate, though serrae usually more 

 numerous on former and broad triangular spine at angle of ridge 

 usually moderate. Gill rakers 9 or 10 + 18 to 20, finely lanceolate, 2 

 to 2)4 in eye; gill filaments % of gill rakers. 



Scales 26 to 28 in lateral line to caudal base and 4 or 5 more on 

 latter; 3 or 4 above, 7 below, 13 to 15 predorsal with median keel 

 extending forward midway in interorbital, usually 2 rows on cheek 

 though sometimes only a single row anteriorly; caudal more or less 

 with fine scales over greater portion basally; broad basal scaly sheaths 

 along dorsals and anal, usually one scale in width. Scales with 5 to 

 16 radiating short marginal striae; circuli moderate, more numerous 

 apically. 



D. VII, I, 9, 1, second spine l l /i to \% in total head length, first 

 ray \% to V/g', A. Ill, 9, 1, to 10, 1, third spine \% to 2}/%, first ray 

 V/% to 2; caudal 2% to 2% in combined head and body to caudal 

 base; least depth of caudal peduncle 2% to 2%; pectoral l}4 to 1%) 

 ventral 1% to 1%. 



Pale brown, scales on back all dusted broadly marginally with 

 dusky. Median axial silvery white band from head to caudal base. 

 Iris silvery white. Fins pale, rays of soft verticals more or less dusted 

 with dull dusky terminally and membrane between second and third 

 dorsal spines terminally dusky to blackish. Often preserved examples 

 show each caudal lobe slightly darker medially. 



East Indies, Philippines, Polynesia. We have united Ambassis 

 vaivasensis Jordan and Seale with this species. Bleeker gives the 

 predorsal scales as 17, a number usually a little greater than most of 

 our specimens. Bleeker had, however, but 2 specimens 73 to 79 mm. 

 long. 



Twenty-one examples. Basut River, east Luzon. June 15, 1909. Length 40 



to 98 mm. 

 .Seven examples. Biio Lake, Abuyog, Leyte Island. July 26, 1909. Length 



51 to 71 mm. 



