PISHES OF THE PHnjIPPINE AND ADJACENT SEAS 329 



base; sometimes upper limits variably narrowed or with undulations; 

 each oblique band with narrow pale marginal line and intervening 

 areas pale or grayish, also area behind posterior band. Over and 

 within dark and pale bands on upper surface of back variable gray 

 to dusky vermiculating or waved lines, though mostly transverse, so 

 that 9 or 10 cross front of body before dorsal in space down to snout, 

 with age about 15. Often a number of dark oblique lines down on 

 preorbital within dark band. Examples often show pale area on 

 lower half of head spotted with brown or in other cases with varied 

 vermiculating bluish or dark gray lines. Often times whole back 

 with pale gray to deep brown spots which extend more or less 

 sparsely on abdomen, in some cases forming variable vertical blue- 

 gray parallel lines over costal region and trunk above. Some exam- 

 ples may show 1 or 2 parallel gray lines on side of thorax before 

 pectoral base. Spinous dorsal and spinous anal brown, often clouded 

 darker, and in adults often large scattered dusky spots on membranes 

 medially to basally. Soft vertical fins often clouded with brownish. 

 Paired fins dull brown. 



Andamans, East Indies, Philippines, China. 



A very abundant and variable species in the Philippines. It is 

 closely related to Siganus doliatus, but differs in a slightly deeper 

 bod}' and less lineated color-pattern. Young examples often show 

 the caudal with 5 or 6 dark cross bands and the soft dorsal and anal 

 wdth dark cross bands. Although w^e admit Siganus doliatus as dis- 

 tinct, it is with some hesitancy, as we -have 3 examples listed under 

 the present species which surely appear intermediate in color-pattern. 

 The largest (12897) has 13 vertical bluish lines which extend well 

 down on the lower sides. The last line is about opposite the base of 

 the fourth anal spine and then 4 or 5 longitudinal lines extend back- 

 ward on hind part of tail and caudal peduncle. On the right side of 

 the same fish are 20 vertical bluish lines and the last is about oppo- 

 site front of soft dorsal and the longitudinal lines correspondingly 

 short. The markings on the opercle are reticulations, which are in 

 agreement with Giinther's compilation of his Teuthis doliata, as he 

 says "those on the operculum reticulated." In the examples we 

 describe as Siganus doliatus they may be a little vermiculate below 

 though usually they appear as oblique short bars or Hues all inclined 

 from the infraorbital limits toward the edge of the gill opening. 



15172. Alibijaban Island, Ragay Gulf, Luzon. March 6, 1909. Length 110 mm. 

 11200, 13713, 16066. Alimango Bay, Burias Island. March 5, 1909. Length 



118 to 165 mm. 

 19373. Beach near Caiholo, Ulugan Bay. December 29, 1908. Length 60 mm. 

 9492, 10590, 19767. Bolalo Bay, Palawan Island. Four examples. December 



21, 1908. Length 68 to 215 mm. 

 12204, 14795, 15569, 15570. Bugsuk Island, Balabac. January 5, 1909. Length 



85 to 158 mm. 

 9008, 9009. Busin Harbor, Burias Island. April 22, 1908. Length 161 to 188 mm. 



