58 LORD HOWE ISLAND. 



Two examples of this handsome Haplodactylus were collected by Messrs. 

 Etheridge and Thorpe on the Admiralty Islets, about a mile to the north of 

 the main Island. They were found in a rock-pool between tide-marks, and 

 would probably have spawned there, as the ova of the female was ready for 

 extrusion, and the milt of the male was in almost as forward a condition. 

 The lengths of the specimens were respectively sixteen and fifteen inches, 

 and the stomachs of both were filled with sea-weeds. I have much pleasure 

 in dedicating this species to Mr. Robert Etheridge, jun., the able leader of 

 the expedition. Register numbers, I. 1515-6. 



LETHEINUS, Cuvier. 



Lethrintts operctjlaris, Guv. Sf Val. 



Mr. Saunders collected a single specimen, measuring over sixteen inches, 

 of this fine Sea-Bream. He informs me that the residents call it the u Red- 

 mouthed Schnapper," and that it is uot common, but is reported to be so 

 at Norfolk Island. It is only caught by hook in deep water, and is said to be 

 generally very good eating, but at certain seasons of the year to develop 

 poisonous properties. 



PAGRTTS, Ouvier. 



Pagrus iinicolor, Quoy Sf Gaim. 



One half-grown example ; said to be uncommon. 



CIRRHITIDJE. 



CIRRHITICHTHTS, Bleeker. 



ClRRHITICHTHTS SPLENDENS, sp. 110V. 



Plate II. 



B. yi. D. 10/12. A. 3/6. V. 1/5. P. 8/ri— 7/vii. C. 13. L. 1. 43. L. tr. 5/11. 



The length of the head is three and a half, the height of the body three 

 and two -thirds in the total length ; the eye is placed in the upper third of 

 the head, and encroaches considerably on the profile ; its diameter is four 

 and three-fourths in the length of the head, and one and three-fifths in that 

 of the snout, which is rather pointed ; the interorbital space is deeply 

 concave, and three-fourths of the diameter of the eye. The upper profile of 

 the head is obliquely flat, and the upper jaw is decidedly longer than the 

 lower ; the maxilla reaches to the anterior fourth of the orbit, and its 

 length is two-thirds greater than the diameter of the eye. The preorbital 

 is as deep as long, and entire ; the opercle bears two blunt flattened spines, 

 the lower of which is much the larger ; the preopercle forms a perfect arc, 

 and is strongly denticulated on its hinder limb, the lower being entire ; the 

 post-temporal is crescentic in form, and is coarsely serrated; there is also 

 a strong blunt spinous process at the postero-superior angle of the eye. 

 The anterior nostril is furnished with a narrow, moderately long, ciliated 

 flap behind. Teeth. — In the jaws villiform, with an outer row strongly 

 conical, some of the posterior lateral teeth in the mandibles being curved 

 and caninoid ; there is an angular band of villiform teeth on the vomer, 

 sparingly intermixed with conical teeth, while there is a similarly-consti- 

 tuted patelloid patch on the front of each palatine bone. Fins. — The 

 dorsal fin begins vertically above the opercular spines, and terminates at a 

 short distance from the caudal, the distance between the base of its last ray 

 and the origin of that fin being equal to the least height of the pedicle, and 

 one-third of the length of the head ; there is a deep notch between the two 



