DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF RANZANIA 

 FROM THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 



BY OLIVER P. JENKINS. 



\ With Frontispiece. ] 



Ranzania makua n. sp. 



D. 17, A. 18, C. 19, P. 13. Depth in length to base 

 of caudal 2^4- Head in length 2|, eye in head 6. Eye 

 in snout, 2}^ • Body much compressed, the ventral margin 

 presenting a sharp, evenly curved keel. In a lateral view it 

 is deepest just behind the pectoral fin, narrowing but 

 slightly to the abruptly truncated posterior extremity, but 

 anterior from this point both dorsal and ventral margins 

 curve gradually to the truncated snout. The eye placed 

 considerably above the axis of the body, and a little nearer 

 the snout than the base of pectoral, and very close to the 

 margin of the dorsal outline. Teeth formed into a beak 

 like that of a turtle, completely hidden by projecting folds 

 of skin, which form a truncated opening to mouth. 



Gill opening just in front of the upper base of the pec- 

 toral, covered by a two-lobed valve. 



Body covered by an armor of small plates, more or less 

 regularly hexagonal. This structure is more or less con- 

 cealed in the fresh specimen. 



Pectoral fin in height slightly less than 7^ length of 

 head. It is well above the axis of the body. Dorsal in 

 height nearly equaling length of head. Height of anal 

 somewhat less. Dorsal and anal each separated from the 

 caudal by a notch. 



The form of the rays of the fins is interesting. Dur- 

 ing most of their extent they form flat horny rods, but 

 at the outer extremity each divides into a great number 

 of branches, spreading out like a fan, the edges of which 

 reach those of the contiguous rays. Fig- i gives the de- 



2d Ser., Vol. V. October 31, 1895. 



