THE FISHES OF SAMOA. 



243 



Color in life of a specimen from Apia, olivaceous, the bands black, converging on caudal; spaces 

 anteriorly before pectoral silvery white, with bright luster; the streaks on head above very white; fins 

 all brick-red. 



Fig. 36. — Amia novemfasciata (Cuvier & Valenciennes). 



Another specimen has the stripes darker olive, almost black, on whiter ground; a black bar across 

 axil, and a black spot in front of it; a stripe from angle of mouth to ventrals; fins all pale red, in 

 younger individuals orange yellow; no black marks, except dusky streak at base of second dorsal and 

 anal, which runs obliquely up and back; black bands convergent on caudal, the outer margin pale; 

 first dorsal all pale. 



A third specimen from the same locality has a deeper bod}', the black stripes more olive, none 

 below level of pectoral; no black bar across axil; a blackish spot on lower part of opercle; fins dull 



Fig. 37. — Amia novemfasciata (Cuvier & Valenciennes). A color variation. 



red; both dorsals and anal with an oblique black cross-band; stripes on caudal less distinctly con- 

 verging, the outer margin black; first dorsal all black. These specimens differ rather markedly from 

 the ordinary ones and may represent a distinct species, but, except in color, we find no tangible 

 characters. 



