spines that follow short, and not protruding much beyond tire sltin. F irst spine in the dorsal
very strong, acnleated at the anterior edge, but not at the sides; no third spine in this iiu
Second dorsal and anal even. Caudal rounded.
O. 2—24; A. 2 1 ; C. 1 2 ; P . 13.
Length 2 inc. 3 lin.
COLOUR— N ot noticed in the recent state. The ground colour has probably been altered by tbe
spirit, but the markings are stiU very distinct, and accord tolerably with Bloch’s figure, except
that the oblique bands on the posterior part of tbe body, in front of and above tbe anal, are
d ark er; whUe they alternate with four white ones, which are particularly conspicuous. Possibly
these white bands may have been originally blue, as the narrow stripes descending from
the eyes to tbe pectorals, which evidently were of that colour, are nearly faded to a white.
There is also a white stain on each side of the tail, where the spines are, which appears to
have been blue originally: the spines themselves are deep shining black.
This specimen shows the black transverse bands between the eyes, and the broad band
passing from the eye to the pectoral, between the narrow blue ones above alluded to, aU represented
by Bloch, but not observed by Mr. B ennett in the specimen figured in the “ Zoologv of
B eechey’s Voyage.”
Habitat, Tahiti.
The above specimen was taken by Mr. Darwin at Tahiti. It is quite small
and differs in some respects from the figures of Bloch and other authors, but it
IS evidently referable to the B . aculeatus. The species is probably subject to
variation in respect of colouring.
1. A l e u t e r e s m a c u l o s u s . R ichards.
Aleuteres maculosus, Richards, in Proceed, of Zool. Soc. 1810. p. 28.
FoiiM .-O val, somewhat approaching to fusiform behind, very much compressed. The greatest
depth one-third of the entire length. Skin covered with little granular points, term inating in
vety minute bristles, and communicating a slight roughness to the touch, when the finger is
passed firom tail to head. Snout rather prom inent and acute : jaws equal. Dorsal spine
springing from above the middle of the orbit of the eye; strong, with four rows o f sharp
prickles at the four angles, pointing downwards, and very regularly s e t: second dorsal spine
v e j mmnte. The second dorsal and anal fins have been lost in this specimen, and their form
and num ber of rays cannot be determined. The pectorals are small, each with twelve rays.
Caudal rounded, also with twelve rays.
Length 5 inc. 4 lines.
C olo u r .- - " Mottled with pale blackish green, leaving white spots.”- D . - I n its present state, the
n “ T m ta tap u re sp irit; such portions as are left accord
we with D r. Bichardson’s description, appearing of a monse-grey, with darker mottlings,
Ifiere are three or four rather indistinct dark ascim across the caudal.
Habitat, King George's Sound.
I have scarcely any doubt of this being the A . maculosus described by Dr.
Richardson, in his recently published notes on a collection of fishes from Van
Diemen’s Land. Mr. Darwin’s specimen, which is in bad condition, was obtained
by him in King George’s Sound.
2. A l e u t e r e s v e lu ti n u s . Jen.
A . pallide fuscescens, fasciis quatuor ohscurioribus, longitudinalibus, indistinctis ;
pinn is pallide aurantiis : corpore ohlongo-ovali elongato ; cute delicate hispida,
scabra : rostro producto, apice obtuso : spiná dorsali aculéis lateralibus dejlexis,
unisei'iatis : pinnis dorsali secundá et anali m ultum ante caudalem desinentibus.
D. 2—33 ; A. 31 ; C. 12 ; P. 13 vel 14.
L o n g , u n c , 8.
P orm. Elongated, approaching to oblong-oval, the tail rather slender. Greatest depth exactly
one-fourth of the entire length, and equalling the length of the head, this last being measured
to the upper angle of the oblique branchial orifice. Back slightly arched, the curvature rather
exceeding that of the belly. Profile in front of the dorsal spine falling very gradually, and not
much out of the rectilineal. Snout considerably produced, but blunt at the extremity. M outh
small ; jaws equal ; teeth strong, and very sharp. Eyes round, placed exactly above the branchial
orifice. T he grains on the skin are coarser than in the A . maculosus, and the bristles
springing from them longer and more developed, especially on the posterior part of the body,
communicating a harsher feel to the touch: these bristles are slightly hooked at their extremities,
the tips being turned towards the tail.
Dorsal spine strong, situate above tbe posterior part of the orbit, with only two principal
rows of prickles, one on each of the two lateral edges ; anteriorly granulated at bottom,
with a few rudimentary prickles towards tbe apex, but posteriorly almost quite smooth. Second
spine very m inute. T he distance from the first spine to the commencement of the second dorsal fin
equals twice the length of that spine. T he anal commences under the fifth doraal ray, and ends
nearly in a line with the termination of that fin, but extends a trifle further. B oth fins fall
short of the caudal by a considerable space. Pectorals rather small. T he caudal is worn at
the end, but appears to have been either situare or slightly rounded.
C olour.— “ V ery pale brown : fins pale orange.”—D.
A second specimen is smaller than the above, measuring six inches and three-quarters in
length. I t is exactly similar in respect to form, and general colour; h ut the sides are marked
with four tolerably distinct longitudinal bands, extending from the branchial orifice to the
caudal, rather darker than tbe ground on which they are traced. There is very little indication
of these bands in the first specimen.
Habitat, King George’s Sound.
This species was taken by Mr. Darwin in King George’s Sound, and appears
to be new. It has some points of resemblance with the B alistes A yra u d of Quoy
m
57