108 



ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE. 



forming a longitudinal fascia, purple ; the rest of those fins, as well as the caudal and ventrals, 

 pale or nearly colourless. 



Habitat, Tahiti. 



This species was taken by Mr. Darwin at Tahiti. It so nearly answers to 

 the description of the S. globiceps of Valenciennes, brought by MM. Garnot and 

 Lesson from the same locality, that I cannot suppose it to be distinct. This spe- 

 cimen, however, appears to have more spinous teeth at the corners of the mouth. 



3. Scarus lepidus. Jen. 

 S.fuscus, capite et pinnis purpureo-cceruleo tinctis: fronte parum elevalo, ceque ac rostra 

 continue et gradatim proclivi ; hoc apice obtuso : maxillis exterius Icevibus, mar- 

 ginibus vix crenatis ; canino ad angulum oris in maxilla inferiore unico, in superiore 

 undo : lima laterali distinct^ ramosd : pectoralibus subtriangulis : caudali subcequali, 

 radiis extemis mediis vix longioribus. 



D. 9/10 ; A. 3/9 ; C. 13, &c. ; P. 13 ; V. 1/5. 

 Long. unc. 8. lin. 7. 



Form. — General form not very dissimilar to that of the last species, but the crown and nape less 

 elevated, whence the profile falls in a more gradual slope : snout, nevertheless, blunt at the 

 extremity. Depth of the body very nearly one-third of the entire length. Head about one- 

 fourth of the same. The height of the head is about four-fifths of its own length. Jaws smooth 

 externally, the true teeth appearing like minute scales on their surface, the cutting edges 

 scarcely at all crenated : only one laterally projecting canine at each corner of the lower jaw? 

 none in the upper. Diameter of the eye one-sixth of the head. 



Dorsal not quite so low as in the last species ; its height in the middle of its length about 

 one- seventh of the depth. Caudal nearly even, the upper and lower rays being scarcely 

 longer than the others. Pectorals and ventrals similar, but the scale between the latter shorter 

 and more rounded. Scales on the body large, the free portions finely striated and granulated, 

 with a broad membranaceous border : three large ones at the base of the caudal, as in the last 

 species. Lateral line distinctly branched, the ramifications irregular and varying on each 

 scale ; in some instances only one long stem extending nearly to the margin of the scale, with 

 one or more lateral twigs ; in others, two, three, or even four distinct stems, either simple or 

 ramified. 



Colour. (In spirits.) Of a nearly uniform dark brown, with some faint traces of purplish blue 



about the head and fins, which possibly may have pervaded some parts of the body also in the 

 recent state. 

 Habitat, Tahiti. 



This species was taken with the last, and notwithstanding it presents two or 

 three obvious differences in respect of form, as well as of colour, it is just possible 

 it may be the same in a younger state. I think it not improbable that the points 

 of the caudal may elongate with age, the forehead become more gibbous, and the 



