28 



GERRES. 



I was happy enough to liud Bleeker's type specimens in 

 our collection, and I had also the opportunity to examine 

 several specimens of G. melanopterus and G. nüjri , collec- 

 ted on the Coast of Liberia by Biittikofer and the late Sala. 

 After a careful study I cannot accept Steiudachner's suggestion 

 concerning the identity of the two species above referred 

 to , as I hope to demonstrate in the following lines. 



In comparing Bleeker's type specimen of G. octactis with 

 the description given by Giinther of G. nigri*), I cannot 

 detect any striking difference between these two species. 

 Though Bleeker mentions that G. octactis differs from those 

 species of the genus, which have eight soft rays in the 

 anal fin [G. plumieri, — rhombeus, — punetatus, — nigri), 

 by having the praeorbital and praeoperculum not denticu- 

 lated, Giinther clearly says in his description of G. nigri 

 » the praeoperculum is rounded , without any denticulations 

 whatever". Giinther says nothing about the praeorbital , 

 but if it was denticulated he would certainly have men- 

 tioned it , as he did describing G. Plumieri. Moreover 

 Bleeker neither in his description nor in his figure pays any 

 attention to the indistinct reflecting, longitudinal streaks 

 above the lateral line , though in that respect G. octactis 

 quite agrees with G. nigri. There also are insignificant diffe- 

 rences in the dimensions of the two species, as the follo- 

 wing table shows; 



1) Catalogne of Fishes of the British Museum. Vol. J. p. 347. 

 Notes from the "Lieytlen ÜVEuseiim , Vol. ~V. 



