THE FISHES OF SAMOA. 267 



Family H/EMULID/E. 



PLECTORHYNCHUS Lacepede. ( Gaterin Forskal. ) 



Fowler separates from Plectorhynchus the species with large scales and 14 dorsal spines as Euela- 

 tichthys, and those with small scales and 10 dorsal spines as Spilotichthys. In Plectorhynchus (=Dia- 

 gramma) the scales are small and the dorsal spines mostly 12 (11 to 13). Further structural differences 

 have been noted by Waite and Ogilby (ms.). 



663. Plectorhynchus diagramma (Lacepede). 'Ava'ava moana. Samoa; Waigiu; Tahiti; New 



Guinea (JIacleay). 

 (Diagramma lessoni Cuvier & Valenciennes; Diagramma linealum Cuvier & Valenciennes; Plectorhynchus cuvieri 

 Bleeker.) 



Of this strongly marked species we have two specimens from Apia and Pago Pago. In one, about 

 nine inches long, the pale color is yellowish, the two median bands on the side coalescing over the 

 pectoral, and the dorsal and caudal fin being marked with black stripes and no spots; the pectoral fin 

 has a large black median spot. This specimen corresponds closely with the original figure of P. cuvieri as 

 given by Bennett. 



The other specimen is nearly two feet long. The pale markings are bluish gray, the stripes on 

 the side are all distinct, and the stripes on the dorsal and caudal are broken up into large round spots, 

 those on the caudal forming two cross-series. The pectoral fin is unspotted. This corresponds to the 

 figures of Plectorhynchus lessoni as given by Lesson, Gtinther, and Bleeker. Bleeker's figure of Plectorhyn- 

 chus cuvieri represents an intermediate stage. We have no doubt that these specimens belong to one 

 species, for which the tenable name is Plectorhynchus diagramma. 



Life colors, young specimen from Apia, dark brown, belly white, side with five pure white stripes 

 of varying width with deep brown interspaces; head anteriorly washed with golden, the stripes 

 becoming yellow; dorsal striped, dark brown and light yellow; caudal redder brown and deep yellow 

 in elaborate stripes; anal yellow with two brown red stripes; ventral golden with dark spots, its axil 

 deep red; pectoral with a brown-red axil and basal bar, the fin yellow with a large black spot. 



The Pago Pago specimen, adult, had eight dark brown longitudinal stripes on side ( the eighth 

 weak) ; caudal bright yellow with about 30 subcircular brown blotches and margin dark brown; 

 dorsal yellowish like tail, with black brown margin and blotches; anal same; pectoral yellow with 

 red axil; ventrals yellow with red axil and brown markings on posterior aspect; ground-color of body 

 white with slight bluish tinge; the white interspaces on back strongly tinged with yellow. 



664. Plectorhynchus orientalis (Bloch). Samoa (Giinther); East Indies. 

 Not found by us; perhaps representing a stage in growth of P. diagramma. 



665. Plectorhynchus pica (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Tahiti; Fiji. 



666. Plectorhynchus radja Bleeker. New Guinea (Macleay). 



667. Plectorhynchus polytaenia Bleeker. New Guinea (Macleay). 



668. Plectorhynchus punctatissimus (Playfair). Tahiti; Seychelles. 



Diagramma punctalissimum Playfair, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, 851, Seychelles. Giinther, Fisehe der Siidsee, 27, taf. 

 21, Society Is., on a figure of Garrett. 



669. Plectorhynchus giganteus (Giinther). Ponape; Caroline Is. 

 Diagramma gigantcum Giinther, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 1879, 6, Ponape. 



670. Plectorhynchus chsetodonoides Lacc'pede. I'a mai-moana. Samoa; Fiji (Giinther); East 



Indies. 

 (Diagramma pardalis Kuhl & Van Hasselt; adult.) 



One very large example, closely resembling the figure of the adult given by Dr. Bleeker, was taken 

 at Apia. Life colors, olive, closely covered above with hexagonal spots of dark brown, restricting 

 the pale olive-green ground color to reticulations; belly slate-color; all the fins spotted like the body, 

 the spots smaller, the pectoral spotted only on the inside; caudal with a gray and then a black 

 margin; membrane of jaws, inside of mouth, and the naked skin at opercular joints all bright 

 blood-red. 



