37. MESOPHION. 10] 



slightly notched. Caudalis notched ; pectorals not fully reaching to 

 the anal. Brownisli ; in immature specimens two whitish blotches 

 on each side of the hack, disappearing after death. 



From the Red Sea along the eastern coast of Africa ; (East Indies). 



Diacope qimdriguttnta, Cuv., after having been united by Riippell 

 with Diae. bohar, and acknowledged by Valenciennes as the young 

 animal of the latter, is now again separated by Bleeker {Natuurh. 

 Tydschr. Nederl. Indie, ii. p. 233). The descriptions of D. bohar are 

 not sufficient to enable us to decide, without specimens from the Red 

 Sea and the East Indies, whether there are really two different species 

 or not. Bleeker, in his description, mentions the prceoperculum as 

 being deeply notched. 



a. Half-grown: not good state. Madagascar. Presented by Dr. 

 J. E. Gray. ^ 



7. Mesoprion caudalis. 

 Cuv. ^ Val. vi. p. 537. 



D. i^. A. i-. 



13 ^' 7* 



Caudalis slightly rounded ; praeoperculum with a very conspicuous 

 notch, and stronger denticulations beneath. Yellowish olive, with 

 violet longitudinal streaks above and beneath the lateral line ; caudal 

 fin with a large, triangular, \'iolet, yellowish -edged blotch ; the spi- 

 nous part of the dorsal fin blackish ; the other fins yellowish. ( Val.) 



Vanicolo Islands. 



8. Mesoprion bitaBniatus. 



Diacope bitfeniata, Cuv. Sr Val. vi. p. 536 ; Qimj ^ Gaim. Voy. Astrol. 

 Potss. p. 664. pi. 5. f. 2. 



D. '-^. A. i-. 



12 • 7* 



Caudalis slightly emarginate. YeUowish, with oblique streaks 

 above the lateral line, and longitudinal beneath ; two red bands 

 across the cheek, and a black one across the middle of the caudal fin. 



Celebes. 



9. Mesoprion waigiensis. 



Diacope waigiensis, Quoy ^ Gaim. Voi/. Freyc. Zool. p. 307. 

 immaculata, Cm. ^- Val. ii. p. 430 *. 



D.i^. A.|. L. lat. 75. 



The height of the body is 3f in the total length, and equal to the 

 length of the head ; the diameter of the eye is 4| in the latter. 

 Praeoperculum very finely serrated ; notch conspicuous, knob rather 

 indistinct. Caudalis emarginate; pectoral distant from anal fin; 

 the third and fourth dorsal spines longest ; the second of the anal 



♦ Cuvier quotes this species aa Diacope immaculata, Quoy & Gaim. ; but this 

 name was given by himself, instead of the true denomination mentioned above. 



