A COLLECTION OF FLSHES FROM SUMATRA. 537 



ing, and finally a broad blue ring on cheek including margin of preopercle. Oper- 

 cular flap with a broad blue-black blotch. All of markings on head narrowly mar- 

 gined with dark brownish. Vertical fins with blotches of pale pearly-bluish. 

 Along base of dorsal these form large distinct blotches more or less rounded, en- 

 larged and most pronounced on soft dorsal. On soft dorsal about second and third 

 rays a large blackish blotch, and extending around paler blotches. Upper portions 

 of dorsals also marked with similar large pale or pearly-blue blotches, most distinct 

 on rayed fins. Anal with a basal series of pearh' spots, one on membrane between 

 each ray, a broad median pearly band longitudinall)-, and margin of fin a little 

 dusky. Caudal with about five pale spots, with slightly brownish margins on each 

 ray forming as many vertical series, and most distinct on outer median portion, 

 which is also a trifle dusky. Pectoral and ventral unmarked. Peritoneum silvery- 

 gray. 



Length 3^ inches. 



Type No. 27,713, A. N. S. P. Padang. 



Close to Halichoeres poecila (Lay and Bennett) from near Riu Kiu. This was 

 identified \^n\X\Jiilis [Halichcvres) harloffii Bleeker b^-that distinguished naturalist. 

 However, he apparently had two forms united under harloffii, one of which repre- 

 sents the examples before me. .^ar/i^^z' is figured later, though the description 

 applies to annulatus. The complete circle or ring on the lower side of the head is 

 the chief character for the distinction of annulatus. 



[Annulatus, ringed.) 



Subgenus HALICHCERES Riippell. 



Canines f . 



186. Halichceres nigrescens (Schneider). 



187. Halichceres leparensis (Bleeker). 



188. Halichceres hartzfeldii (Bleeker). 



189. Halichceres guttatus (Bloch). 



190. Thalassoma lunare (Linna;us). Plate XXIII, lower figure. 



191. Thalassoma melanochir sp. nov. Plate XX, middle figure. 



Head 2f ; depth 3i; D. VIII, 13 ; A. Ill, 11 ; P. ii, 14; V. I, 5; scales 24 

 in a lateral series below lateral line to base of caudal ; 3 scales between lateral line 

 and origin of spinous dorsal ; 8 scales between origin of anal obliquely back to lat- 

 eral line; 26 scales in lateral line, last one on base of caudal ; width of head 2|^ in 

 its length ; depth of head over anterior margin of eye 1|- ; snout 2\- ; eye 6|- ; mouth 

 3|^; interorbital space 4^; eighth dorsal spine 3|^; second dorsal ray 2|-; third anal 

 spine 4-!L; second anal ray 3-1^; least depth of caudal peduncle 2^; caudal, meas- 

 ured to tip of middle rays, lyV; pectoral l-f-; ventral 2|^. 



Body elongate, compressed, deepest anteriorly or about origin of ventral, and 

 upper profile a little more convex than lower. Caudal peduncle compressed, and 

 its least- depth a trifle less than its length. 



Head moderately large, compressed, pointed, and its upper profile evenly con- 

 vex from tip of upper jaw to occiput. Snout long, compressed, sides flattened, its 

 upper surface convex, and upper jaw well protruded in front. Eye small, circular, 



68 JOURN. AC.\D. NAT. SCI. PHILA., VOL. XII. 



