72 NEW FISHES FROM PACIFIC COAST GILBERT, 



Scales large, rough, vertically much deeper than wide, ^yith numerous 

 small accessory scales at base which become exceedingly numerous on 

 head and nape, where they form a shagreen-like covering. Lateral 

 line little prominent, the pores opening on under surface of scales, 

 ceasing under last rays of soft dorsal. 



Head, 3^ in length ; depth, one-half length to tip of median caudal 

 rays. D. XII, 16 ; A. II, 14. Lat. 1. 29 (twenty-two pores). 



Color : Uniform slaty gray, the fins somewhat darker, all but spinous 

 dorsal narrowly white-margined. Peritoneum gray. 



Abundant on rocky reefs at Clarion and Socorro Island; a single speci- 

 men secured, about 7 inches long. 



29. Holacanthus clarionensis sp. nov. 



Preopercular spine gently curved, its outer face channeled, the spine 

 fitting into a groove in front of base of pectoral, 2^ in head, not reaching 

 vertical from margin of opercle. Vertical limb of preopercle with twenty 

 to twenty-five short strong spines ; horizontal limb with two spines 

 pointing backwards; the anterior portion of margin of interopercle 

 with two strong spines; from one to three smaller spines behind these. 

 Preorbital with a strong compressed blunt spine directed forwards, and 

 two sharp ones below it. Posterior margin of subojiercle with a series 

 of short spines. No opercular spines. 



Anterior profile very slightly concave above orbits, the snout not 

 protruding; maxillary 4 in head. Eye small, little more than half 

 snout, 4^ in head, IJ in interorbital width. 



Head,"4 in length ; depth, I4. D. XIV, 18 ; A. Ill, 18. 



Membrane of first dorsal spine free from scales ; of second and 

 third, partly scaly; other spines with membranes wholly scaled. 

 Length of fourteenth spine 2* in head. Soft dorsal and anal not pro- 

 duced, the angles rounded, the posterior margins inclined but 

 slightly forwards, and about on vertical of base of caudal. Longest 

 rays of dorsal and anal equal, 1^ in head. Caudal truncate when 

 widely spread, the angles not rounded, the outer rays not al all pro- 

 duced, about equaling length of head; pectorals and ventrals about 

 equal, equaling length of head, the ventrals with outer rays slightly 

 produced, reaching to or slightly beyond vent. 



Scales large, everywhere covered with small basal accessory scales, 

 all rough-ctenoid. Lateral line much arched, concurrent with the back, 

 incomplete, ending under middle of soft dorsal, with only 35 pores. 



Color: Head and body very dark olive-brown, a wide orange-red 

 bar behind head, including nape and back as far as sixth dorsal spine, 

 becoming narrow on middle of sides, and expanding again below 

 to include region from gill openings nearly to vent, being here, how- 

 ever, darker and less distinctly defined. The yellowish color continues 

 backwards as a submargiual band on dorsal and anal, the margin 

 being deep blue, broader posteriorly. Caudal bright orange-red, with 



