346 South-Pacific Fishes of the Genus Callanthias. 



XLVITT. — On the South-Pacific Fishes of the Genus 

 Callanthias. By G. A. Boulenger, F.R.S. 



The genus Callanthias was established by Lowe in 1839 for 

 a remarkable Perciform fish inhabiting the Mediterranean and 

 neighbouring parts of the Atlantic — G. peloritanus, Cocco. 

 A second species was discovered by Mr. Morton Allport off 

 the coast of Tasmania and described by Giinther in 1876 

 under the name of C. Allporti: one of the types is figured in 

 the first volume of the new ' Catalogue of Fishes,' pi. xv., 

 and I can answer for the perfect accuracy of the figure, with 

 this restriction — that the tail-fin of the specimen is possibly 

 injured ; the absence of a filamentous prolongation of the outer 

 rays of the caudal is therefore a peculiarity wiiich I shall 

 abstain from mentioning among its specific characters. A 

 third species, of which specimens were obtained near Juan 

 Fernandez by Dr. L. Plate, has been added quite recently by 

 Steindachner, under the name of G. Platei ( l Fauna Chi- 

 lensis,' Fische, p. 284, pi. xv.). 



From the description and figure it is evident that G. Platei 

 differs from G. Allporti by the feebler dentition, the feebler 

 lower opercular spine, the much shorter dorsal and anal rays, 

 and the more slender caudal peduncle. In G. Allporti the 

 last dorsal spine measures | the length of the head and the 

 longest soft rays are fully as long as the head ; the third 

 anal spine measures § the length of the head ; the caudal 

 peduncle is as deep as long. In G. Platei the last spine is 

 little more than ^ the head, and the soft rays are not much 

 longer ; the third anal spine is about | the head, and the 

 caudal peduncle is H as long as deep. These characters 

 are certainly sufficient to justify the specific distinction of 

 the Tasmanian and Chilian fishes. 



Almost simultaneously with Steindachner's description 

 there appeared, in both 8vo and 4to editions, E. R. Waite's 

 Report on the Fishes collected off the coast of New South 

 Wales on H.M.C.S. 'Thetis' (Sydney, 1898), in which is 

 figured, on plate ii., under the name of Callanthias Allporti, 

 a fish which differs greatly from the true C. Allporti, and 

 seems to me to be identical with G. Platei. Waite does not 

 describe the fish, only remarks : — " Our specimens do not 

 wholly agree with the published descriptions of the species, 

 but critical comparisons are reserved for the more technical 

 treatise previously announced." In view of this forthcoming 

 work I therefore wish to point out that the differences which 

 Mr. Waite appears to treat so lightly certainly indicate 



