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The Atoll of Funafuti, Ellice group : its zoology, botany, ethnology and general structure based on collections made by Charles Hedley of the Australian Museum, Sydney, N.S.W.

Carangidæ

page 189

Carangidæ.

Caranx Lacépède.
Caranx muroadsi,
Temm. & Schleg.

Caranx muroadsi, Temm. & Schleg., Fauna Japon. Poiss., p. 108, pl. lviii., fig. 1.

While I cannot be absolutely certain of the correct determination of the species, the aggregate characters lead me to name the only specimen procured as above. Caranx muroadsi has not, so far as I am aware, been previously recorded from other than the seas of Japan, with. Ternate doubtful. (Günther.) Length of specimen 295 millim.

Caranx crumenopthalmus, Bloch.

Caranx crumenopthalmus, Bloch., sp., Fisch., pl. cccxliii.; Jenyns, Yoy. of "Beagle," Fish, p. 69, pl. xv.

This widely distributed form is represented by two small specimens of equal size (210 millim.). Together with other small material they were preserved in a 5% solution of formol, which has several advantages over spirits. No appreciable shrinkage takes place, and the flesh remains quite firm, while delicate forms such as Leptocephalus, and minute membranous structures, as for example the adipose fin of small scopelids, are perfectly preserved. As a colour preservative it is incomparable with spirit, which, as is only too well known, renders nearly all specimens of the same uniform yellowish-brown. The action of formol is beneficial in yet another way. Fishes killed in this fluid die with their members extended, so that the fin formulæ of the smallest forms (Gobius, Salarias) can be counted with delightful ease and without disturbing a single ray. Lastly, spirit cannot be diluted to more than half its bulk, while formol may be carried at one-twentieth the bulk at which it can be used, a matter of no small consideration to a heavily equipped collector.

Chorinemus, Cuv.& Val.
Chorinemus sancti-petri, Cuv.& Val.

Chorinemus sancti-petri, Cuv. & VaL, Hist. Nat., viii., p. 379, pl. ccxxxvi.

In Day's "Fishes of India," (p. 230) there is a misprint, by which the second dorsal is made to commence "midway between the snout and the front nostril." In the "Fauna of British India," (p. 174) the passage is simply omitted. It was probably intended to read: "midway between the snout and the front (base) of the caudal."

page 190

Another palpable error occurs in the measurement of the pectoral, and as this is copied into the "Fauna,"(loc. cit.) it may be further mentioned. The length of this fin is stated to be "4½ in the total length." In the Funafuti example (525 millim. to middle caudal rays) it is contained 7′8 times, or 9 times in the extreme length, which was probably the measurement taken by Day.

Trachynotus, Cuv. & Val.
Trachynotus baillonii, Lacépède.

Trachynotus baillonii, Lacépède, sp., Poiss., iii., p. 93, pl. iii., fig. 1.

Represented only by a very young example measuring 85 millim. in length.