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Show 1867.] THE FISHES OF SEYCHELLES. 857 Istiophorus gladius, Lacep. iii. pp. 374, 375. Xiphias ensis, Lacep. ii. p. 296. Histiophorus indicus, Cuv. & Val. viii. p. 293, pl. 229 ; Cuv. Reg. Anim. 111. Poiss. pl. 53. f. 1. H. americanus, Cuv. & Val. viii. p. 303. H. gladius, Giinth. Fish. ii. p. 513. I am indebted to Mr. Ward for the head, portion of the skin, and the entire fins of a very interesting specimen of Histiophorus captured at Mahe. This differs from IL. gladius in several important points, such as the depressed shape of the rostrum, which in 77. gladius is conical and of much greater length ; nevertheless, as m y specimen is so incomplete, and as there is so strong a resemblance between the two, I hesitate to describe this as a new species. The following is a description of the specimen : - D.42|7. A. 11 j6. V.l. P. 18. The first three dorsal spines short and closely united to the fourth, which is roughly granulated and considerably longer than the produced portion of the rostrum ; the next seven spines do not differ greatly in length; the fifteenth to the thirty-sixth are much produced, the longest being longer than the length of the head; the last six are short, the longest being less than half the diameter of orbit. Second dorsal fin emarginate above ; the first and last rays longest, and longer than any of the spines after the thirty-sixth. Second anal similar to second dorsal; the first is more elevated, the longest spine being one-half the length of the fourth of the dorsal. The ventral consists of a single ray, its length is equal to the distance from the centre of orbit to end of snout. Pectorals much shorter, about half as long as head. Two conspicuous keels on each side of base of caudal. The caudal lobes are about one-fourth of the total length, measured from end of snout to fork of caudal. The upper profile of head descends nearly in a straight line ; upper jaw depressed, much broader than deep. The distance from the end of snout to posterior margin of orbit is about two-thirds of the length of the entire head. The produced portion of rostrum about equal. to the distance from the extremity of the mandible to the posterior limb of the prceoperculum. Dermal productions numerous, lanceolate, hidden in the skin. Membranes of first dorsal fin with numerous round light spots. Creole name " L'empereur." ft. in. Total length, to fork of caudal 7 8 Length of head 2 9 of produced part of upper jaw 1 2 of upper jaw from angle of mouth.... 2 2 of pectorals 1 0 - of ventrals 2 0 Greatest height of dorsal 3 0 Length of caudal lobes 1 9 P R O C ZOOL. SOC.-180/, No. LV. |