Dr. A. Guntlier on a new Sjiecies of ^lesoprion. 25 



Fig. 55. Anal extremity of the same. 



Fig. 56. Embryo Annelid, with immense bunches of temporary bristles. 



Fig. 57. Adult of fig. 56? 



Fig. 58. Minute Annelid parasitic on shell of lobster. 



XXXVlII. — Desanption of a new Species of Mesoprion. 

 By Dr. Albert Gunther. 



[Plate IX.] 



The finest specimens of stuffed fishes which I have seen are 

 prepared by the native employes of the Madras Museum. 

 Capt. Mitchell, curator of this museum, has sent a small collec- 

 tion of such examples to the coming Universal Exhibition at Paris. 

 Among them I have observed a new and very aberrant species 

 of Mesoprion, distinguished by very feeble jaws and canine 

 teeth, a very narrow prseorbital, short snout, &c. I propose to 

 name it 



Mesoprion Mitchelli. PL IX. 



D. ||. A. |. L. lat. 70. L. transv. 10/22. 



The height of the body is one-third of the total length (to 

 the end of the middle caudal rays), the length of the head two- 

 ninths. The snout is but little longer than the eye, which is 

 nearly one-fourth of the length of the head. Jaws feeble, the 

 lower projecting beyond the upper ; the maxillary scarcely ex- 

 tends beyond the front margin of the orbit. Teeth in the jaws, 

 vomer, and palatines villiform, in very narrow bands ; the upper 

 jaw only is armed with a pair of minute canines. Prieorbital 

 very narrow, its width being about half that of the orbit. Scales 

 on the cheei in four or five series, the naked portion of the prse- 

 operculum being very broad at the angle. Prseoperculum very 

 finely serrated behind, the angle being radiated, each radius 

 terminating in a scarcely perceptible spine. Basal half or third 

 of the vertical fins densely covered with scales. Dorsal fin with 

 the upper margin even; spines slender; the first is one-third as 

 long as the second, which is not much shorter than the fourth 

 and fifth, which arc the longest and half as long as the head. 

 The second and third anal spines are feeble, equal in length, 

 and shorter than the second of the dorsal. Caudal fin cmar- 

 ginate. Pectoral falciform, longer than thcMicad, not extending 

 to the vent. Dark oblique and longitudinal lines run along 

 the series of scales. Vertical fins with a narrow blackish edge. 



The specimen is 16 inches long; it has been kindly promised 

 for the Collection of the British Museum, after the close of the 

 Paris Exhibition. 



