Mr. Darwin’s collection contains a second species of this genus from the
Keeling Islands, which does not appear to be identical with any of those
described by Cuvier and Valenciennes; but as there is but one specimen,
in a very bad state of preservation, and the species inhabiting the
Indian Ocean are very numerous, as well as extremely similar to each
other, I refrain from describing and naming it as certainly new. I shall
therefore merely point out some of its leading characters, so far as
they can be ascertained; in the hope that they may prove of use in
leading others to identify it who may visit the above Islands hereafter.
Form and appearance of the mouth similar to that of the _M. labeo_ of
the Mediterranean. Lips fleshy, and very much developed, with the
borders fringed; the lower one partially reflexed. Apparently no trace
of teeth anywhere. Suborbital with a shallow notch on its anterior
margin, obliquely truncated at its posterior angle, and obsoletely
denticulated. Maxillary slender and slightly bent, nearly concealed
beneath the suborbital, but showing a little beneath it, from its
being a trifle longer. The head is a little less than one-fifth of the
entire length: the snout short, and rather obtuse. Longitudinal
diameter of the eye contained three and a half times in the length of
the head: no appearance of any adipose veil. Orifices of the nostril
approximating. The depth of the body cannot be accurately ascertained,
but it appears to have been about one-fifth of the entire length. The
commencement of the anal is but very little in advance of that of the
second dorsal; both fins appear to have been covered with small
scales. Pectorals not quite so long as the head: apparently no
elongated scale above them: one, however, above the ventrals, half the
length of those fins. The fin-ray formula is as follows:—