14 



BULLETIN 10 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



ing distinctly only by transmitted light; anal obscurely barred in same 

 manner; no bars on caudal. Paired fins more orange; pectoral black on 

 upper base. 



16110. Bolalo Bay, Palawan. December 21, 1908. Length 222 mm. 



10677 [94]. Bubuan Island, Jolo. February 14, 1908. Length 162 mm. Gener- 

 ally saffron umber. Yellowish bar from dorsal down to middle of pectoral 

 dividing upper side of body ; posterior area with narrow black lines, defined 

 by pale edges ; anterior area with blue-green centers to scales forming irreg- 

 ular rows of dots, fusing as stripes across cheek ; below yellowish bar black 

 stripes extend slightly nearer head and lower 4 broken on left side; first 

 black line along base of dorsal, breaking into branches on dorsal and ending 

 on caudal peduncle ; second immediately above lateral line and ends with 



Figure 1. — Dampieria melaxotaenia (Bleeker). Variatio.n of color marking.s 



same ; fourth ends at hind dorsal edge, next four end at base of caudal, ninth 

 and tenth at hind anal edge and all stripes equidistant. Head and breast 

 slaty scarlet, abdominal region more purely scarlet, merging into orange 

 along lower side. Chin and lower head dark slaty ; top of head slate with 

 indistinct brown markings. Iris red brown, with narrow golden inner ring. 

 Dorsal brilliant scarlet, short paler bars across membranes of last three- 

 fourths of fin ; on first 7 membranes red segregated into numerous small dots ; 

 scales of base dusky yellowish-green and dash of same color on soft part of 

 fin near hinder edge; entire fin narrowly edged with bright blue. Caudal 

 brilliant scarlet, with dusky green shades in central region and tipped with 

 brilliant blue. Anal bright scarlet, tipped with blue. Pectoral bright green- 

 ish yellow, somewhat orange at tip, base color of adjoining region and black 

 blotch on upper edge of base. Ventral rays greenish yellow, membranes with 

 orange scarlet stripes. 

 4892. Buang Bay, Talijit Island. March 15, 1909. Length 202 mm. Four 

 examples show marked variation in black dorsal blotch, from nothing to 

 twice eye diameter. Fin otherwise very similar in each example ; vermilion 

 specks on front part of fin smaller and more numerous in some than in others 



