660 DR. A. GtTNTHER ON NEW FISHES [Nov. 21, 



and therefore, n my opinion, ought to be sunk into the synonymy 

 or, better, forgotten. 



Holocentrtjm microstoma, Giinth. Fish. i. p. 34. 



There are several examples in the Godeffroy collection from the 

 Samoa and Tonga Islands. The spot in front of the spinous dorsal 

 is larger than in the typical specimens, where it has partly disap- 

 peared from the long period during which they have been preserved 

 in spirits. The spot is in the form of an oblique black band. I think 

 that H. tahiticum, Kner (Novara, Fisch. p. 9), is not specifically 

 distinct from this species. (The figure given by Kner represents 

 H. sannnara.) 



Holocentrtjm diploxiphus. (Plate LX.) 

 D. 11/13. A. 4/9. L.lat. 45-49. L. transv. 3|/8. 

 The height of the body is equal to the length of the head, and 

 one third of the total (without caudal). The interspace between the 

 eyes is flattish, its width being somewhat less than the diameter of 

 the eye, and two sevenths of the length of the head. The length of 

 the groove for the processes of the intermaxillaries is two thirds of 

 the diameter of the eye. Length of the snout about three-fifths of 

 the diameter of the eye ; the maxillary does not extend to below the 

 middle of the orbit. Suprascapula serrated. Operculum with two 

 prominent flat spines subequal in size. The prceopercular spine is 

 broad, flat, dagger-shaped, projecting far beyond the margin of the 

 gill-opening, its length being two thirds of the diameter of the eye. 

 Dorsal fin elevated; the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth spines are the 

 longest, half as high as the body. Third anal spine very strong, two 

 thirds of the length of the head, or two ninths of the total length 

 (without caudal) . Caudal moderately forked, with the lobes rounded. 

 Ventral fins terminating at a great distance from the vent. In the 

 adult the upper parts and sides are of a rose-colour, which gradually 

 passes into the silvery coloration of the lower parts ; some parts of 

 the back are minutely and indistinctly punctulated with brown. 

 Vertical fins with a reddish tinge ; the spinous dorsal with a broad 

 yellowish margin ; and a series of very indistinct rounded darker 

 spots along its upper half. In a half-grown example the head and 

 body are densely punctulated with brown ; the upper parts being of 

 a greyish green, with two large whitish blotches. The anterior 

 blotch occupies the space below the second half of the spinous dorsal, 

 the posterior is below the end of the soft dorsal. The spinous dorsal 

 fin with a curved series of large roundish blackish spots, the upper 

 part of the fin being of a yellowish colour. 



Two specimens from the Godeffroy collection ; the larger is 

 ,5| inches long, the smaller 3| inches. Samoa Islands. 



Acanthtjrtjs aterrimus. 

 1) L A - 



"• 31" 28* 



The height of the body is contained once and two thirds in the 



