THE FISHES OF SAMOA. 



433 



This species, with 2 black stripes besides 1 on the dorsal, is unknown to us. It is near our Petro- 

 scirtes azureus. 



1630. Petroscirtes atrodorsalis Giinther. Samoa. (PI. Liir, fig. 3.) 

 Petroscirtes atrodorsalis Giinther, Fische der Sudsee, 19S, taf. 115, fig. B. Samoa. 



We have 2 specimens of this rare and handsome little fish, from Pago Pago. 



Life colors, clear dark blue, becoming golden on caudal peduncle and caudal fin; 2 sky-blue stripes 

 on eye; a black stripe from edge of pupil to origin of dorsal; dorsal with a broad median band of jet- 

 black, its margin white; caudal pale golden; other fins dusky bluish; a black spot in axil of pectoral. 



1631. Petroscirtes xestus Jordan & Seale, new species. Samoa. 



Head 2.85 in length; depth 2.75; eye 2.2 in head; dorsal 26; anal 17; interorbital equal to eye. 



Body elongate, compressed, largest at head; anterior profile rounded, snout less than one-half of 

 eye; angle of jaws below middle of eye; teeth in a single row in jaws, a pair of large curved fang-like 

 canines in each jaw, those of the lower jaw largest; gill-opening reduced to a narrow slit less in width 



Fig. 110. — Petroscirtes xestus Jordan & Seale, new species. Type. 



than one-half diameter of eye; a single continuous dorsal fin whose origin is slightly anterior to gill- 

 opening and whose distal end does not extend quite to base of caudal; base of anal fin 3 in length of 

 fish without caudal, its longest ray 3.95 in head; origin of anal much nearer base of caudal than tip 

 of snout, its distal end not reaching quite to base of caudal; pectoral 1.95 in head; ventral 2 in head, 

 their base slightly anterior to base of pectoral; caudal rounded, 1.75 in head. 



Color in life, light clear brownish red, with a broad silvery lateral stripe from eye to base of 

 caudal; 6 dark cross-shades on body; top of head bright silvery, as if coated with mercury; throat 

 and belly white, sprinkled with silvery spots; dorsal clear with a submarginal row of dark blotches; 

 other fins all clear. 



Color in spirits, silvery with small brown spots and shadings, yellowish white along base of dorsal ; 

 7 or 8 incomplete vertical cross-bands on the side about as wide as interspaces, these most distinct at 

 base of dorsal; nuchal region set with a heart-shaped coloring like new silver, a silvery wash less 

 bright on sides of head, thorax, and belly; in front of ventral a number of prominent bright silvery 

 dots with darker margins; dorsal with a few dusky spots, otherwise fins yellowish white. 



Two specimens from Pago Pago. The type is no. 51797, U. S. National Museum, from Pago Pago, 

 length 0.56 inch. 



1632. Petroscirtes elong-atus Peters. Fiji; East coast of Africa. 



Petroscirtes elongatus Peters, Wiegmann's Archiv 1S55, 219. Zanzibar, Mozambique. Giinther, Fische der Sudsee, 



196, Fiji. 

 Petroscirtes oualenensis Giinther, Challenger Fishes, 18S0, 35, Fiji. 



1633. Petroscirtes lineolatus Kner. Fiji. 



Petroscirtes lineolatus Kner, Sitz. Ak. Wiss. Wien, i.viii, lsus, S81, taf. 6, fig. 17, Kandavu. Giinther, Fische der 

 Sudsee, 197, taf. 115, fig. a (after Kner); 



1634. Petroscirtes semilineatus Kner. Fiji. 



Petroscirtes gemilineatus Kner, Sitz. Ak. Wiss. Wien. LVin, 1S68, :J32, Kandavu. Giinther, Fische der Sudsee. 197: 

 after Kner. 



