REPORT ON THE SHORE FISHES. 7 



Hoemulon chrysargyreum, Gthr., Fernando Noronlia. 

 Priacanthus, sp., Station 126. 

 Pomacanthus para, Bl. , St Thomas. 

 Scor poena plumieri, BL, St Thomas. 

 Holocentrum longipinne, C. V., St Thomas. 



Peristethus truncatum, n. sp. (PI. II. fig. A). 



D. -j^, A. 20, L. lat. 32. The length of the prseorbital processes is contained twice and 

 three-fourths in the distance between their extremities and the anterior margin of the orbit. 

 Interorbital space deeply concave, with a depressed smooth groove along the middle ; a 

 minute spine on the base of each prseorbital process, but no other on the upper surface 

 of the snout ; lower jaw with numerous barbels, the longest being fringed. The prse- 

 opercular ridge does not extend beyond the hind margin of the bone, and is not produced 

 into a spine ; also the opercular ridge terminates in a short and truncated projection. 

 Each scute of the body with a hooked spine. Each of the bony plates between the ventral 

 fins is not quite twice as long as broad. Rose-coloured, with small irregular brownish 

 spots on the upper parts. Length of specimen 6^ inches. Coast of Pernambuco. 

 Station 122 ; 30 or 350 fathoms. 



Malthe vesj^ertilio, L. Station 122; 30 or 350 fathoms. 



Heliastes flavicauda, n. sp. (PL XXX. fig. D). 



D. ^, A. ^, L. lat. 27, L. transv. 2^/9. The height of the body is contained twice 

 and one-thu'd in the total length (without caudal) ; the diameter of the eye is a little 

 more than one-thiixl of the length of the head or than the width of the interorbital space. 

 Dorsal spines of moderate strength and nearly equal in length ; the length of the second 

 anal spine is one-half of that of the head ; caudal fin emarginate, with the lobes rounded. 

 Sky-blue (in spirits) with purple reflexions ; abdomen purplish ; end of the tail and caudal 

 fin yellow; a deep black spot superiorly on the axil of the pectoral. Length of specimen 

 3 inches. Coast of Pernambuco. Station 122 ; 30 fathoms. 



Romhoidichthys cornutus, n. sp. (PL 11. fig. B). 



D. 78, A. 62, L. lat. 48. This species differs from all the other species of the genus 

 in having the lateral line anteriorly with a very slight obliquity only ; there is no curve. 

 The height of the body is one-half of the total length (without caudal), the length of the 

 head a little less than one-third. Head higher than long, with the anterior profile 

 straight ; snout only half as long as the large eye, the diameter of which is two-fifths of 

 the length of the head. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width ; the maxillary extending 

 beyond the front margin of the eye, which it equals in length. Interorbital space 

 concave, scaly, its width being one-half of the longitudinal diameter of the eye. Lower 



