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Show 660 DR. A. GUNTHER ON N E W FISHES [Nov. 21, and therefore, n my opinion, ought to be sunk into the synonymy or, better, forgotten. IIOLOCENTRUM MICROSTOMA, Giinth. Fish. i. p. 34. There are several examples in the Godeffroy collection from the Samoa and Tonga Islands. The spot in front of the spinous dorsal is larger than in the typical specimens, where it has partly disappeared from the long period during which they have been preserved in spirits. The spot is in the form of an oblique black band. I think that II. tahiticum, Kner (Novara, Fisch. p. 9), is not specifically distinct from this species. (The figure given by Kner represents H. sammara.) HOLOCENTRUM DIPLOXIPHUS. (Plate LX.) D. 11/13. A. 4/9. L. lat. 45-49. L. transv. 3|/8. The height of the body is equal to the length of the head, and one third of the total (without caudal). The interspace between the eyes is flattish, its width being somewhat less than the diameter of the eye, and two sevenths of the length of the head. The length of the groove for the processes of the intermaxillaries is two thirds of the diameter of the eye. Length of the snout about three-fifths of the diameter of the eye ; the maxillary does not extend to below the middle of the orbit. Suprascapula serrated. Operculum with two prominent flat spines subequal in size. The preeopercular spine is broad, fiat, dagger-shaped, projecting far beyond the margin of the gill-opening, its length being two thirds of the diameter of the eye. Dorsal fin elevated; the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth spines are the longest, half as high as the body. Third anal spine very strong, two thirds of the length of the head, or two ninths of the total length (without caudal). Caudal moderately forked, with the lobes rounded. Ventral fins terminating at a great distance from the vent. In the adult the upper parts and sides are of a rose-colour, which gradually passes into the silvery coloration of the lower parts; some parts of the back are minutely and indistinctly punctulated with brown. Vertical fins with a reddish tinge; the spinous dorsal with a broad yellowish margin; and a series of very indistinct rounded darker spots along its upper half. In a half-grown example the head and body are densely punctulated with brown; the upper parts being of a greyish green, with two large whitish blotches. The anterior blotch occupies the space below the second half of the spinous dorsal, the posterior is below the end of the soft dorsal. The spinous dorsal fin with a curved series of large roundish blackish spots, the upper part of the fin being of a yellowish colour. Two specimens from the Godeffroy collection; the larger is 5| inches long, the smaller 3^ inches. Samoa Islands. ACANTHURUS ATERRIMUS. 1) - A 3 The height of the body is contained once and two thirds in the |
