244 MR. G. A. BOULENGER ON [Apr. 16, 



MYLIOBATIDiE. 



83. Aetobatis narinari, Euphr. 



84. Dicerobatis eregoodoo, Cant. 

 9 feet iu diameter. 



Notes are here appended on some of the fishes described by me 

 as new hi my first account, which have been regarded by Mr. Day ' 

 as synonyms of previously known species. 



SeRRANUS PRvEOPERCULARIS. 



Six more specimens, adult (vip to 28 inches long) and half-grown 

 skins, and half-grown in spirit, having been sent by Mr. Jayakar, 

 I have carefully compared them with the types and with 5. morrhua, 

 of which we have now in the Museum five dry specimens, presented 

 by Mr. Jayakar, and two in spirit, from the Red Sea, presented by 

 Dr. Klunzinger. Although very closely allied to S. morrhua, S. 

 prceopercularis is a perfectly valid species, constant in its coloration. 

 The third dorsal spine at least equals the distance between the 

 upper extremity of the border of the praeoperculum and the extremity 

 of the median opercular spine in S. morrhua; it is considerably 

 shorter in S. prceopercularis, which, in this respect, agrees with 

 S. latifasciatus. The latter species difiFers from both in the lower 

 opercular spine being placed much further back than the upper, 

 and in having only 12 to 14 branched dorsal rays". Excellent 

 figures of half-grown S. morrhua have been given by Steindachner ^ 

 under the name of S. brunneus ; but I cannot admit this fish to be 

 the Epinephelus brunneus of Bloch. 



Serranus gibbosus. 



A second specimen, in spirit, has been received. It agrees in 

 every respect with the type. Apart from the coloration, the shorter 

 body distinguishes S. gibbosus from S. striolatus. I cannot under- 

 stand how its specific distinction from S. altivelis can be questioned, 

 even for a moment. 



Apogon maximus. 



Three more specimens having been sent, I have reinvestigated the 

 character of this beautiful species, which is perfectly distinct from 

 A. li/asciatus. There are constantly 9 branched rays in the anal, 

 instead of 8 as in A. bifasciatus ; the second dorsal spine is more 

 than half the length of the third, instead of less than half; the 

 posterior upper border of the maxillary is not overlapped by the 

 suborbital, which tapers below the centre of the eye, whilst in A. 

 bifasciatus the suborbital is wider and overlaps the maxillary 

 throughout. The coloration is very different ; and the large size 

 (10 inches) also serves to distinguish A. maximus from A. bifasciatus, 

 which does not exceed a length of 4^ inches. 



1 P. Z. S. 1888, p. 258, and Append. Fisb. Ind. (1888). 



- The type specimen of S. morrhua, which I have examined iu the Paris 

 Museum, has 14 soft rays. Another specimen, likewise from Mauritius, has 

 15 rays. 



^ Steindachner u. Doderlein, " Fische Japans," Derikschr. Ak. Wein, xlvii. 

 p. 22, pi. V. figs. 1, 2 (1883). 



