forming a longitudinal fascia, purple ; the rest of those fins, as well as the caudal and ventrals,
pale or nearly colourless.
H abitat, Tahiti.
This species was taken by Mr. Darwin at Tahiti. It so nearly answers to
the description of the S. glohiceps of Valenciennes, brought by MM. Garnot and
Lesson from the same locality, that I cannot suppose it to be distinct. This specimen,
however, appears to have more spinous teeth at the corners of the mouth.
3. ScAuus L E PID U S. Jen.
S. fuscus, capite et pinnispurpureo-cceruleo tinctis: fronte parum elemlo, mque ac rostro
continue et gradatim procUei; hoc apice obtuso: maxillis exterius lavibus, marginibus
vix crenatis ; canino ad angulum oris in maxilU inferiore muco, in superiore
mulo: limá laterali distincíé ramosa : pectoralibus subtriangulis: caudali subcequali,
radiis externis mediis vix longioribus.
D. 9/10 ; A. 3/9; C. 13, &c. ; P . 13 ; V. 1/5.
L o n g . u n c . 8 . l in . 7 .
roHM.— 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; snont, nevertheless, blunt at the
extrem ity. D epth of the body very nearly one-third of the entire length. H ead about one-
fonrth o f the same. T h e height of the head is about four-fifths of its own length. Jaw s smooth
externally, the true teeth appearing like m inute 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. D iam eter 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 ftee portions finely striated and granulated,
with a broad membranaceous b order; three large ones at the base of the caudal, as m the last
species. L ateral 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 tw igs; in others, two, three, or even four distinct stems, either simple or
ramified.
C0L0U R .-(/« spirits.) O f 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 m the
recent state.
H abitat, 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 ju st possible
it may be the same in a younger state. I think it not improbable that the points
of tlie caudal may elongate with age, the forehead become more gibbous, and the
FISH.
spinous teeth more numerous. If it be distinct it would seem to he
though the colours not having been noticed in the recent «
to speak with certainty ou this point. For the same reason, the spec,lie
may perhaps hereafter be found to require alteration.
4 . S c a r u s
Mr Darwin’s collection contains another species of Ncarux from the Keeling
Isrn d s ^ 1,™ may probably be distinct from all those hitherto noticed, but which
b e t ; ffiTather a t d state ^ preservation, I
as well as I can, without affixing any name to it, lest in the end it prove ™t ne
Many of the species enumerated in the “ Histoire des Poissons h a v i n g o n ly then
00 J r s n otice! it requires that these should have
than what Mr. Darwin’s notes furnisli in tins instance, in orde
it be identical or not with any of those spoken of m that work.
F n .w - A tolerablv regular ovai, Bomewhat attenuated at each extremity ; dorsal and ventral lines
of equal curvature. N ape not at all elevated, and tbe profile on the whole falkng very regu-
larly and gradually from thence to the end of the snout, though there ts a slight °
X e forehead. D epth one-fonrth of the entire length. Jaw s smooth externdly. b u t w ,h the
true teeth very distinct upon their surface, and much more so upon their cutting e ges a
a half times in the depth o t the body, and exactly eqnallmg the distance from the upper r^d e
of the back to the lateral line. Pectorals somewhat triangular, tlie nppormos,
arcuate Seale between the ventrals one-third the length of those fins. Caudal slightly
::::cent-shaped, when the rays are closed; when spread, all the middle rays appear even, the
uppermost and lowermost projecting very slightly beyond them.
D .9/10; A. 3/9; C. 1-3, &c.; P. 14; V. 1/5.
Length 6 inches.
C o L o n n . - « Body dull reddish and greenish, the f “ . " “ / r a t
lengthwise with vcrm illion-red; head with waving bright green lines D.^ g
colours remains in its present state, and the only indicatton o t markmgs ts a narrow
shaped band across the middle of the caudal.