FISHES WAITE. 181 



FISHES. 



The Collection of Fishes comprises fifty -four species, which are 

 for the most part well known forms. A large number of them 

 are widely distributed, and range from the Red Sea and the east 

 coast of Africa across the Indian and Java Seas to Polynesia. 

 Smaller and possibly more interesting species were not obtained, 

 due to the only possible method of procuring them. The natives 

 brought in the fishes as caught by net or hook, and not conceiving 

 that they were required for other than edible purposes, naturally 

 preserved only the best examples from their point of view. At 

 first they very seduously avoided bringing to land any specimens 

 they regarded as poisonous, and it was some time before they 

 could be made to understand that the fishes were not to be eaten. 



Zoologically this notice is little more than a list, which is of 

 value more especially for extending the known range, and by 

 supplying an exact locality for the species enumerated. 



Some of the short notes may be of wider interest, and this 

 refers especially to the native names which have an Ethnological 

 value. 



All the specimens have been referred to described species, but 

 in a few instances the identification is doubtful, due to insufficient 

 descriptions, the fugitive nature of the characters described, or 

 to the necessary literature not being accessible. 



EPINEPHELUS, Block. 

 EPINEPHELUS URODELUS, Cuv. & Vol. 



Epinephelus urodelus, Cuv. & Val., sp., Hist. Nat., ii., p. 306 ; 

 Giinther, Fische der Siidsee, p. 3, pi. iii., fig. a. 



This brilliantly coloured '' rock-cod " is called " Matiri " by 

 the natives, and the only example obt-iiaed is of the variety with 

 the white convergent lines on the tail. 



EPINEPHELUS LEOPARDUS, Lacepede. 



Eplnephehis leopardus Lacepede, sp., Poiss., iii., p. 517, pi. xxx., 

 fig. 1 ; Giinther, Fische der Siidsee, p. 4, pi. iii., fig. b. 



Although many of the Serranidse are nearly allied, I have no 

 doubt that the only specimen available is correctly assigned to 

 the present species. In addition to its comparative proportions 

 it agrees well with Giinther's figure, the black band on the upper 

 lobe of the tail is however alone developed. 



