162 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
4.2 in head, third 2.9, and last 4.6; anterior dorsal rays elevated, third longest, 1.5 in head, last 6; 
third anal spine enlarged, 1.8, fourth 2.2; soft anal similar to soft dorsal, first ray 1.7, last 5.25; caudal 
rather small, forked; pectoral pointed, 1.4; ventral sharp pointed, 1.4; spine slender, 2.5; caudal 
peduncle compressed, its length 1.8, its depth 3.2. 
Color in life, very deep red, golden shades along rows of scales below, alternating with brighter 
shades of vivid violet; some faint dark spots on anterior part of body, in axil, and one on base of 
pectoral, these small, round spots larger than nostril; fins deep red without edge; a row of whitish 
spots on membrane of first dorsal; third anal spine w'hite; ventral spine clear violet. 
Another example (No. 03471) was brilliant red in life, with violet shades along the rows of scales; 
fins scarlet or crimson, nearly plain; no dark marks anywhere. 
Color in alcohol, pale brown or brownish white, side with about 10 broad longitudinal bands. 
This very handsome species resembles II. Here Lesson =H. pcecilopterus Bleeker, from the South 
Seas, differing principally in the fewer scales and single series of pale spots on the spinous dorsal. 
Fig. 59 . — Holocentrus erythrsrus Gunther; after Giinther. 
Described from an example (No. 04962) taken at Honolulu. We have 6 specimens 7.6 to 13.5 
inches long, from Honolulu and Kailua. The species w r as obtained at Honolulu, also by the Albatross, 
and we have one specimen from Samoa. 
Holocentrmn erythrseum Gunther, Cat., I, 32, 1859, Sea of San Cristoval, Solomon Islands; Gunther, Fische der Siidsee, IV, 
99, pi. 63, fig. B, 1875 (Solomon, New Hebrides, Kingsmill, Society, Paumotu, and Hawaiian islands); Smith & 
Swain, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., V, 1882, 127 (Johnston Island). 
Holocentrus erythrxus, Jenkins, Bull. U. S. Fish Comm., XXII, 1902 (Sept. 23, 1903), 411 (Honolulu); Snyder, op. cit. (Jan. 
19, 1904), 523 (Honolulu). 
118. Holocentrus punctatissimus Cuvier & Valenciennes. Fig. 60. 
Head 3.25 in length; depth 3; eye 3.4 in head; snout 4; maxillary 2.7; interorbital 3.6; D. xi, 14; 
A. iv, 9; P. i, 14; V. i., 7; scales 4-47-7. 
Body elongate, compressed, greatest depth about tip of ventral spine, upper and lower jirofiles 
nearly evenly convex; head elongate, compressed, depth 1.25 in its length, width 2; eye rather small, 
well anterior, and impinging a little on upper profile; snout blunt, oblique; mouth rather small, 
oblique; maxillary reaching posteriorly behind front margin of pupil, its distal expanded extremity 
2.6 in eye; supplemental maxillary large; lips thick, fleshy; teeth in jaws, and on vomer and palatines 
minute, in broad bands; tongue elongate, pointed, free in front; nostrils close together, posterior one 
a small cavity; lower margin of preorbital serrate; suborbital rim narrow, also finely serrate; bones of 
head all more or less finely serrate; margin of preopercle below with a large dagger-shaped spine 
reaching well beyond gill-opening; margin of opercle above with two nearly equal, rather short spines; 
