447 



band. Anal, pectorals, and ventrals blackish, lighter in the 

 larger specimen. 



Described from two specimens 290 and 348 mm. long 

 from the snout to the end of the middle caudal rays, the 

 smaller of which is figured and is selected as the type. They 

 are closely allied to several of the species of Gheilodactylus 

 which have more than thirty dorsal rays, but the disposition 

 of their colour-marking distinguishes them from all. 



Loc. — The larger example was obtained at Lord Howe 

 Island by Mrs. T. Nichols, while the other was secured 

 by Mr. E. Allen at Norfolk Island. 



Family AMMODYTIDAE. 



Genus Bleekeria, Gtinther. 



Bleekeria, Gtinther : Brit. Mus. Cat. Fish., iv., 1862, p. 387 

 (B. Icallolepis, Gtinther); Jordan: Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 

 xxx., 1906, p. 716. 



This genus apparently differs from Ammodyies only in 

 having no free longitudinal fold of skin along each side of 

 the ventral surface. A critical comparison of the specimen 

 described below with European examples of A. tobianus, 

 Linnaeus, fails to reveal any other generic differences. 



Bleekeria vaga, n. sp. 

 PI. xliii., fig. 1. 



Br. vii. ; D. 48 : A. 22 : P. 16 ; C. 15 : L. lat. 107 + 5 ; L. tr. 

 3, 1, 18. 



Head, from the premaxillary symphysis to the end of the 

 opercular lobe, 4"3 in the length to the hypural joint. Depth 

 of the body 2"1 in the head. Eye a little wider than the 

 bony interorbital width, half as long as the snout, and 6*8 in 

 the head. Pectoral fin 2'5, fourth dorsal ray 4*5, and third 

 anal ray 3*2 in the head. 



Body subc}dindrical, a little compressed, thickest in the 

 middle of its length and tapering at each end. Snout 

 pointed, the mandible projecting and conical anteriorly. 

 Maxillary reaching to below the anterior margin of the eye, 

 pointed behind, and entirely hidden by the preorbital. Lips 

 broad. Nostrils minute simple openings, supero-lateral. Eye 

 with a well-developed adipose lid. Angles of the preoper- 

 culum and operculum expanded into broad lobes, which are 

 produced backwards. Head naked, with a subcutaneous 

 muciferous system opening into minute pores, which are 

 largest on the limb of the preoperculum. Jaws and palate 

 without teeth ; a large bony knob at the symphysis of the 

 premaxillaries, and a smaller one on the mandible. Gill- 

 openings very wide, the membranes free from the isthmus, 



