250 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



APOGONICHTHYS Bleeker. Fo. 

 Fowleria Jordan & Evermann, Bull. U. S. Fish Coram., xxn, 1902 (Apr. 11, 1903), 180 (auritus). 



This genus is based on a species, Apogon auritus Cuvier & Valenciennes, which we have not seen. 



It is, however, very closely related to three Samoan species, with which it is doubtless congeneric. 



These species differ from the group called Foa in having no teeth on the palatines. In all of them there 



is a large black ocellus on the opercle, and the lateral line, although interrupted, shows rudimentary 



pores on the caudal peduncle. 



a. Opercle with a large ocellated black spot. 



b. Body mottled with dusky; fins all closely chequered; lower side of head chequered variegatus 



bb. Body deep red in life, with many pale cross-bands; fins faintly mottled; caudal blackish at tip marmoratus 



bbb. Body brown; a distinct black spot at base of many scales, forming lines; fins plain isostigma 



511. Apogonichthys variegatus (Valenciennes). Samoa; Tahiti; Yap; lie de France. 



f Apogon auritus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vn, 443, 1831, He de France; color plain, fins plain, an 



opercular spot. 

 Apogon variegatus Valenciennes, Ann. Sci. Nat., 1, 1832, 55, lie de France; body and finsmottled; an opercular spot. 

 Apogon auritus, Giinther, Fische der Siidsee, 23, Tahiti, Yap. Day, Fishes of India. Streets, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 



VII, 1877, 100, Samoa. Sauvage, Fish. Madagascar, 141, not plate. 



This species is common on the reefs about Samoa. We have fen examples from Apia and twenty 

 from Pago Pago. It is well figured by Day as Apogon auritus, but the original auritus is said to have 

 the fins plain. There is a black opercular spot, and the body and fins are everywhere closely mottled 

 with light and blackish. The vertical fins especially are finely marked, the pattern suggesting that of 

 the fins of some gobies. 



This species may be the original Apogon auritus, but it can not be identified as that without 

 comparison with the original type. Apogon punctulatus of Riippell and A. polysiirjma of Bleeker may 

 be the true auritus. At any rate, the figures diverge widely from our fish. The description of A. 

 auritus of Sauvage approaches it, but his figure looks much like Foa brachy gramma. 



Life colors of a specimen from Apia, body everywhere much mottled, blackish, and gray; all the 

 fins save the ventrals elaborately spotted and barred; jaws barred and mottled; a black ocellus on the 

 opercle. 



Another specimen from Apia was dirty olive-brown; opercle with a black pale-edged ocellus, very 

 large and conspicuous; fins all much like the body, brown and mottled; caudal rounded. 



Fig. 44.— Apogonichthys marnioratus (Alleyne & Macleay). 



512. Apogonichthys marmoratus (Alleyne & Macleay). Fo mumu (red). Samoa; North 

 Australia. 

 Apogonichthys marmoratus Alleyne & Maeleay.'Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W., 1876, 268, pi. v, fig. 2, Cape Grenville 

 (North Australia). 



Of this species, distinguished by its clear red color, black opercular spot, and the body covered 

 with pale crossbands, we have three specimens from Pago Pago, and ten from Apia. It is well sepa- 

 rated from Apogonichthys variegatus. The little figure given by Alleyne and Macleay is characteristic. 



