550 DR. A. gUnther on fishes from MAURITIUS. [Juiie 23, 



shrivelled, adhering by ils half-dried mucus to the black-leaded 

 surface of the hearth-stone immediately in front of the grate. 



I do not think ti)at this Bipalium ever makes use of its mucus as 

 a means of suspension ; indeed the nature of its haunts would seem 

 to render any such means unnecessary. 



Soutb-Africaii Museum, Cape Town, 

 13th May, 1887. 



8. Descriptions of two new Species of Fishes from 

 Mauritius. By Dr. A. Gijnther, V.P.Z.S. 



[Eeceived June 14, 1887.] 

 (Plates XLVIII. & XLIX.) 



Latilus fronticinctus. (Plate XLVIII.) 



Tliis species differs very considerably from the typical forms of 

 Latilus in the greater development of the spinous dorsal fin, in 

 the armature of the opercles, narrowness of the infraorbital bone, 

 and great width of the bridge connecting the branchiostegal mem- 

 branes, so that perhaps it would be better referred to a distinct 

 genus to which the name of Hojjloladlus may be given. 



B. 6. D. J|. A. i|. P. 17. V. -^. L. lat. 125. 



Head and body compressed, oblong ; the greatest depth of the body 

 is nearly equal to the length of the head and one fourth of the total 

 length without caudal. Interorbital space rather convex, somewhat 

 less than one third of the length of the head. Eye equal to tlie 

 length of the snout and one fourth of the length of the head. 

 Snout short, obtuse, slightly overlapping the lower jaw. Cleft of 

 the mouth oblique, extending a little behind the middle of the eye ; 

 the maxillary being separated from tlie eye by an extremely narrow 

 infraorbital bone. Teeth in both jaws in a band anteriorly, which 

 on the sides tapers off into a single series and terminates behind in 

 the enlarged curved labroid tooth ; the upper jaw is armed with two 

 pairs of canines in front, whilst the lower bears a whole series of 

 canine-like teeth outside the villiforrn band ; there are no teeth on 

 the palate. 



The prffioperculum is strongly armed ; it not only bears a strong 

 and coarse serrature along its posterior margin, but it is also armed 

 with a strong triangular spine at its angle. The operculum ter- 

 minates behind likewise in a flat triangular spine. 



Only the snout is naked, the remainder of the head being covered 

 with minute scales. 



Branchiostegal membrane not joined to the isthmus, forming a 

 broad bridge across it ; gill-rakers rather long and lanceolate ; there 

 are sixteen along tlie lower branch of the outer branchial arch. 

 Pseudobrancliiae well developed. A singular skinny nodule of white 

 colour is attached to the inner edge of the clavicle, opposite to the 

 pectoral fin. 



