1867.] THE FISHES OF SEYCHELLES. 8.")7 



Istiophorus fffadms, Lace'p. iii. pp. 3/4, 375. 

 Xiphias ensis, Lacep. ii. p. 296. 



Histiophorus indicus, Cuv. & Val. viii. p. 293, pi. 229 : Cuv Re* 

 Arum. 111. Poiss. pi. 53. f. 1. r r . o- 



H. americanus, Cuv. & Val. viii. p. 303. 

 H.gladius, Giinth. Fish. ii. p. 513. 



I am indebted to Mr. Ward for the head, portion of the skin, and 

 the entire fins of a very interesting specimen of Histiophorus can- 

 tured at Mahc. This differs from H. gladius in several important 

 pomts, such as the depressed shape of the rostrum, which in H 

 gladius IS conical and of much greater length ; nevertheless, as my 

 specimen is so incomplete, and as there is so strong a resemblance 

 between the two, I hesitate to describe this as a new species. The 

 following IS a description of the specimen : — 



D. 42|7. A. 11 1 6. V. 1. P. 18. 



The first three dorsal spines short and closely united to the 

 fourth, which is roughly granulated and considerably longer than 

 the produced portion of the rostrum ; the next seven spines do not 

 differ greatly in length ; the fifteenth to the thirty-sixth are much 

 produced, the longest being longer than the length of the head ; the 

 last six are short, the longest being less than half the diameter of 

 orbit. Second dorsal fin emarginate above ; the first and last rays 

 longest, and longer than any of the spines after the thirty-sixth, 

 becond anal similar to second dorsal ; the first is more elevated, the 

 longest spine being one-half the length of the fourth of the dorsal. 

 Ihe ventral consists of a single ray, its length is equal to the distance 

 from the centre of orbit to end of snout. Pectorals much shorter, 

 about half as ong as head. Two conspicuous keels on each side of 

 base of caudal. The caudal lobes are about one-fourth of the total 

 length, measured from end of snout to fork of caudal. 



The upper profile of head descends nearly in a straight line : upper 

 jaw depressed, much broader than deep. The distance from the end 

 of snout to posterior margin of orbit is about two-thirds of the length 

 of the entire head. The produced portion of rostrum about equal 

 to the distance from the extremity of the mandible to the posterior 

 limb of the prceoperculum. 



Dermal productions numerous, lanceolate, hidden in the skin. 



Membranes of first dorsal fin with numerous round light spots 



Creole name " L'empereur." 



Total length, to fork of caudal 7 'S* 



Length of head '. .. 2 9 



• of produced part of upper jaw l 2 



of upper jaw from angle of mouth .... 2 2 



■ — of pectorals I y 



■ of ventrals 2 



Greatest height of dorsal .'.3 



Length of caudal lobes ...'.'. \ y 



Pkoc. Zool. Soc— 1H67, No. LV. 



