296 



Note. It is impossible to give this species even its correct 

 generic position after the short description of the authors. As 

 OGILBY, one of the authors, placed the species later on (vide 

 syn.) in the genus Rhomb atractus, we don't know why TATE 

 REGAN united it with M. dumasi under the name of Aniso- 

 centrus rubrostriatus. He did not see typical specimens and 

 based his description on two co-types of M. dumasi and on 

 5 specimens from the Setakwa-River. Moreover he gives as 

 habitat: Aru-Islands; we don't know on whose authority. Later 

 on (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1914, p. 339) TATE REGAN got informa- 

 tions about the type of the species from Me CULLOCH and 

 writes: "the type of N. rubrostriatus Rams. & Ogilb. is damaged 

 about the mouthparts; a figure of the upper jaw is sufficient 

 to indicate that examples I have recently described as belonging 

 to this species, are correctly determined." As the origin of the 

 dorsal is situated above or somewhat behind that of anal in 

 M. duniasi, whereas it is according to the authors be- 

 fore that of anal in N. rubrostriatus, we think it safer to keep 

 them apart, till lastnamed species is better known. 



2. Rhombatractus Gill (Weber), 



(GiLL, American Naturalist 1894, p. 709; 



MAX WEBER, Nova Guinea V. Livr. 2, 1908, p. 233). 



Rhombosoma Tate Regan, Trans. Zool. Soc. London XX. 



part 6, 1914, p. 283. 



Much compressed, oblong, the height increasing with age. The 

 dorsal profile sloping gently upwards from head to dorsal in small 

 specimens, usually much elevated and convex in old specimens. 

 Ventral profile convex, much so in old specimens. Upper jaw 

 the longer. Mouth comparatively large, reaching to vertical 

 through frontborder of eye or nearly so. Intermaxillaries with 

 an abrupt bent between their horizontal and lateral part. Lips 

 thickened. Pointed conical teeth in several rows in the jaws, 

 extending to the outside of the lips. A patch of teeth on 

 vomer. Teeth on palatines more or less conspicuous, teeth on 

 base of tongue present or absent. First dorsal with one spine 

 and 3 5 flexible rays. Second dorsal with one spine and 11 17 

 soft rays. Anal with a weak spine and 18 30 soft rays. Origin 

 of anal in advance of that of first dorsal, below it or somewhat 

 behind it. Ventrals with a slender spine and 5 soft rays, be- 

 ginning somewhat behind origin of pectorals, which have no 



