O. M0NACANTHU3. 24] 



15. Monacanthns nematophorus. 



? Monacanthns villosus, IlulUtrd, Ann. Sc. Nat. 1854, ii. p. 333, pi. 12. 

 fi-. 2. 



D. 25. A. 25. 



Skin velvety, with scattered long, fringed filaments. Dorsal spine 

 above the hind margin of the orbit, strong, rather shorter than the 

 head, armed with a double series of barbs behind. The dorsal pro- 

 file between the fins is nearly horizontal. The depth of the body is 

 not quite one-half of the total length (without caudal). Snout 

 moderately produced, with the upper profile scarcely concave. 

 Caudal rounded. Ventral spine moveable, spiny, free from tlie ab- 

 dominal flap. Dorsal and anal fins rather low. Uniform brownish. 



? China or Borneo. 



a. One and three-fourths inch long. Presented by Vice-Admiral Sir 

 E. Belcher. 



IG. Monacanthns oblongns. 



Monacanthus oblongus, Schleg. Faun. Jajwn. Poiss. p. 291, pi. l.'iO. 



fig. 2 ; Bleek. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Neerl. iii. Japan, iv. p. 34, tab. 3. 



fig. 1. 



broekii, Bleeh. I. c. p. 35, fig. 2. 



frenatus, Peters, Monatsher. Ak. Wiss. Berlin, 1855, p. 4G4. 



bertolonii, Bianconi, Mi-m. Acad. Sc. Inst. Bmion .\\. 1855, p. 148. 



tab. 3. fig. 2. 



D. 25-28. A. 25-29. 



Skin finely velvety. Body sometimes oblong, sometimes more 

 elevated, its depth being contained twice or twice and a half in the 

 total length (without caudal). Pectoral situated behind the ver- 

 tical from the orbit. Snout more or less produced, with the upper 

 profile nearly straight. Dorsal spine sometimes rather feeble, some- 

 times rather stronger, from two-fifths to three-fourths of the length 

 of the head, armed with two series of small barbs behind, situated 

 above or behind the posterior margin of the orbit. Caudal fin 

 rounded, sometimes with the upper or the middle rays slightly pro- 

 duced ; dorsal and anal Jins conspicuously elevated in front (one 

 example has the anterior dorsal raj's produced into filaments). 

 Ventral spine small, pointed, moveable, without or with very small 

 spinelets. Uniform brownish, or irregularly marbled with darker ; 

 or body with numerous brown dots, confluent into irregular lines on 

 the side of the head. Dorsal and anal fins generally with a narrow 

 black edge. 



Japan; Zanzibar. 



a. Six and a half inches long : stuff'ed. 



6. Three and a half inches long : skin in spirits. Purchased of Hr. 

 Frank. — One of the types. 



c. Four inches long. Fi-om Dr. Blocker's Collection. — This example 

 has been received as typical of M. nemtirvs, but cannot belong 

 to that species if correctly described and figured. This sjieei- 



VOL. VIII. B 



