Descriptions of New Species of Fishes—No. II.
BY ANDREW GARRETT, OF HONOLULU, SANDWICH ISLANDS.
Cheilodactylus Lacep. 1803.
C. vittatus Garrett.
B. 6; D. 17-30; A. 3-8; V. 1-5; P. 8-6; C. 5, 1, 7, 6, 1, 4.
The height of the body is a trifle less than one-third of the total length. The upper profile rises in a convex line from the snout to the occipital region, whence it suddenly ascends in a nearly vertical curve, giving that portion of the fish a strongly gibbous appearance. The body rapidly tapers posteriorly, though preserving a slightly convex outline. The head enters nearly four and a half times in the entire length. The eyes are large, sub-circular in shape, even with the line of profile, and their greatest diameter is nearly one-third the length of the head. They are placed nearer the origin of the lateral line than the end of the snout. The small maxillary bone extends as far back as the anterior margin of the eye.
The dorsal fin takes its origin immediately above the posterior limb of the orbit and terminates within one diameter of the eye of the caudal fin. Its three anterior rays are very small, and the fourth, which is the tallest, is one-third as long as the base of the whole fin, or equal to two-thirds the height of the body. Posteriorly the spiny rays rapidly diminish in altitude so that the last one is shorter than the succeeding soft rays. The soft portion of the fin is comparatively low, gently convex along its upper edge, and is equally as long as the spiny part. The anal fin is small, being inserted just in advance of the middle of the soft portion of the dorsal. Its extreme margin is slightly concave and the rays rapidly diminish in length posteriorly. The ventrals when laid back reach as far as the anal fin. The second simple pectoral ray extends as far back as the vent. The caudal, which is deeply forked, has its lobes rounded off.
Color greyish-silvery, and ornamented with five oblique blackish-brown bands which are disposed as follows: one extends from the snout to the preopercular margin, the second starts from the eye and terminates on the pectoral base, the third, which passes over the occipital region, extends below the pectoral axilla; the fourth, which is much broader, starts from the origin of the dorsal fin, curves downward and backward, becoming wider in its descent, and passes beneath the abdomen; the fifth one commences on the upper anterior half of the spiny dorsal, extending along the back to near the termination of that fin. Three irregular, pale spots may be observed in the dorsal band, and three large blackish-brown spots on the caudal trunk. The opercular flap and snout tinged with orange-red. The interorbital space is marked with two transverse brownish-red bands. Irides yellowish-silvery. That portion of the dorsal fin anterior to the fifth band is white, the remainder, together with the anal and caudal, light-yellowish, the latter tipped with blackish-brown. The pectorals are orange-red, and the ventrals are deep blackish-brown.
Length, 7 inches.
Habitat, Sandwich Islands.
Remarks.—An extremely rare fish, of which the solitary specimen now before me is the only example that has come to my notice. It is the more interesting in a geographical point of view, as being the only species—as near as I can ascertain—recorded from the Polynesian Seas. Sir John Richardson, in his interesting “Notices of Australian Fish,” published in the “Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London,” describes, and gives a list of thirteen species. Nine of those occur in the Australian Seas, one from China and Japan, two from the Cape of Good Hope, and one from Tristan d’Acunha. In the number and arrangement of the fasciae, our fish closely resembles the C. gibbosus, Sol., (Chætodon) from Van Diemen’s Land. The latter species is less gibbous, the eyes smaller, the soft portion of the dorsal fin shorter, and the caudal forks are more pointed than in the C. vittatus.
Apogon Lacep. 1802.
A. maculiferus, Garrett.
B. 7; D. 7-1-9; A. 2-8 V. 1-5; P. 13; C. 4, 1, 8, 7, 1, 3.
The upper profile of the head is slightly concave; otherwise the general shape of the fish closely resembles the Apogon fraenatus, Val. The greatest depth of the body, taken at the commencement of the anterior dorsal fin, equals the length of the head, or two-sevenths of the entire length of the fish. The eye is large, sub-circular in shape, even with the upper line of profile, and its diameter nearly one-third as long as the head. The upper jaw is slightly the longest, and the hinder termination of the maxillary is on a line with the posterior border of the pupil. The margin of the preopercle is finely and regularly dentated, and its anterior crest or ridge exhibits but few irregular teeth. The lateral line may be traced over twenty-four scales.
The first and second dorsal fin are of equal length along their base, both being higher than long, and the altitude of the latter, which exceeds that of the former, is, as compared to the entire length of the fish, one to five. The anal fin is inserted a trifle more posterior than the fin above. The large ventrals, when laid back, cover the vent with their tips. The caudal is sub-bifurcate.
Color brilliant silvery, with an iridescent reflection in which carnation predominates. The upper two-thirds of the body is ornamented with longitudinal rows of small olivaceous spots, one on each scale, and those above the lateral line more or less coalescing, forming broken bands. The head, which is more or less tinged with diluted carmine-red, is marked by a diffuse olivaceous band, which extends from the end of the snout, passing through the eye and terminating on the opercle. Irides silvery white; cornea black. The membranes of all the fins are tinged with orange-yellow, and their rays are red.
Length, 5½ inches.
Habitat, Sandwich Islands.
Vernacular, “Upapalu.”
Remarks.—The longitudinal series of maculations will readily determine this species. Under the lens the spots assume the appearance of clusters of minute dots, some of which have blue central points.
Scorpæna Artedi, (L.)
S. parvipinnis, Garrett.
D. 13·10; A. 3-5; V. 1-5; P. 7-9; C. 5, 1, 6, 5, 1, 3.
In this species the upper and lower outlines are quite similar, being gently arched. The greatest depth of the body falls slightly short of one-third of the total length, and the greatest thickness at the base of the head, is a little more than two-thirds of the above mentioned depth. The head constitutes just one-third of the whole fish. The eye is large, circular, its diameter being nearly one-fourth of the length of the head. Four spines may be seen along the upper edge of the orbit, and the same number on each side of the occipital region and nape, the posterior one the larger. Two intraorbital spines, one on the nasal bone, and a longitudinal row of four along the supratympanic region. Two on the opercle, the lower one long and projecting posterior to the margin of that bone. A stout one may be observed on the humeral region, one on the infra-orbital, three on the margin of the preopercle, and a longitudinal row of irregularly disposed ones along the cheek. The lower jaw is slightly longer than the upper, and the tip of the maxillary extends as far back as the hinder border of the eye. Fine scales envelop the basal portions of all the fins except the ventrals, and cover all parts of the head except the jaws and the lower half of the maxillary bone. Minute filaments are observed on all parts of the fish, being more numerous on the upper anterior third of the body. The dorsal and anal fins are small, the former commencing above the origin of the latter line. The spiny portion of the dorsal is very low, gently arched, and constitutes nearly two-thirds of the fin. The soft portion of the anal fin is very narrow and rounded off.
The head and anterior half of the body is greyish, passing into light carnation beneath, and obscurely clouded with dusky. The posterior half of the body is dusky black, which fades into pink beneath, maculated with small darker spots. Caudal trunk, pink. Two large dusky black spots on the anterior dorsal region. Irides greenish-yellow. Fins pinky-red, the spiny dorsal mottled with dusky, and the other fins dotted with pinky-brown, and a bar of the same color on the caudal base.
Length, 4 inches.
Habitat, Sandwich Islands.
Remarks.—The scaly head, small dorsal and anal fin will readily distinguish this beautiful species.
Crenilabrus, Cuv.
C. modestus, Garrett.
B. 6; D. 12-10; A. 3-12; V. 1-5; P. 17; C. 2, 1, 6, 6, 1, 2.
The greatest depth, which occurs beneath the origin of the dorsal fin, is about one-fourth of the total length, and the greatest thickness is just half of the above mentioned depth. The head, which comprises a little more than one-fourth of the whole fish, presents a slight concave depression above the eyes. The preopercular serrations are very small. The eyes are sub-circular, their greatest diameter entering nearly six times in the length of the head, and twice in advance of their own orbit. The hinder tip of the maxillary reaches a vertical, passing through the center of the eye. Twelve longitudinal rows of scales may be enumerated between the lateral line and the vent, ten rows on the side of the caudal trunk, and the median longitudinal row on the body contains thirty scales. The lateral line, which passes over thirty-three scales, consists of slightly branched tubes.
The dorsal fin extends over a base equal to half the length of the fish, caudal fin excluded. Its soft portion falls slightly short of one-third of the whole fin. The anal fin, which is nearly half as long as the dorsal, has its hinder termination slightly more posterior. The acuminately pointed ventrals, when closely appressed to the abdomen nearly reach the anal fin. The large caudal has its posterior upper and lower angles considerably prolonged and pointed.
Color purplish-brown, passing into bluish grey beneath, and obsoletely lineated longitudinally with darker. A large oblong pale diffuse spot beneath the posterior end of the dorsal fin, which is directed obliquely downward and forward. Irides silvery, tinged with yellow. The dorsal fin is pale greyish, marked anteriorly with a large diffuse blue-black spot, its soft portion being tinged with reddish and margined above with yellow. The anal, ventrals and caudal are bluish-grey, the former posteriorly tinged with faded red and edged with yellow. Pectorals nearly colorless.
Length, 18 inches.
Habitat, Sandwich Islands.
Remarks.—We have obtained only two individuals of this large species, both of which were exposed for sale in the Honolulu fish-market. The colors, which are no doubt considerably changed, were taken from the dead fish.
Chironectes Cuv. 1817.
C. niger, Garrett.
D. 3-12; A. 6; V. 5; P. 10; C. 1, 7. 1.
The head constitutes about one-third of the total length, caudal excluded. The eyes are elliptically-oval, and inserted just once their greatest diameter distant from the margin of the upper jaw. The skin is covered with fine closely set prickly asperities, which gives it a velvety appearance. The general outline is ovate, and the greatest thickness equals one-sixth of the entire length. A range of conspicuous pores commences on the upper part of the gill covers, curving downward and upward to the symphysis of the lower jaw. Another row follows the margin of the upper jaw, passing over the snout, where it branches off posteriorly, curving over the eye and disappearing on the posterior portion of the body. Each pore is encircled with brush-like appendages, which gives them a tufted appearance. The dorsal fin extends over a base equal to one-third the length of the fish. Its upper margin is arched, and its height as compared to length is as one to two. The height and length of the anal fin are about equal.
Color deep black and obsoletely maculated with rather small roundish darker spots. On the basal portion of the dorsal and anal fins may be observed two large ocellations, with deep black pupils and paler areolae. Very minute opaque white points may also be seen scattered along the lower parts. Eyes blackish.
Length, 3½ inches.
Habitat, Sandwich Islands.
Remarks.—This species possesses the nasal tufted bristle and two horn-like processes that we observe in all the species inhabiting these seas. When handled it emits a most disagreeable odor.
Dr. J. G. Cooper presented the following paper: