SCOLOPSIS. 29 



SCOLOPSIS, Cuv* 



81. Scolopsis japonicus. [4-] 



Anthias japonicus, Block, t. 325. f. 2. 



Kurite, Russell, pi. 106. 



Scolopsis kurite, Rtipp. Atlas, Fisch. p. 9, t. 2. f. 3 ; Cuv. §• Fa/, v. p. 331. 



japonicus, Gunth. Fish. i. p. 354. 



Aden. Red Sea. Coasts of India and China. 



82. Scolopsis nototaenia, sp. n. Plate V. fig. 2. [113.] 



D. £. A. ? L. lat. 44. L. transv. ^. 



Diagnosis. — The height of the body is contained three times and a half in the total 

 length ; length of the head thrice and three-fourths in the same. One infraorbital spine, 

 the plate below it hardly serrated. Posterior limb of prseoperculum emarginate, with the 

 angle rounded and projecting backwards; denticulation conspicuous. The second and 

 third anal spines nearly equal, the former is the stronger ; caudal hardly notched. 



Colour yellowish, with a blackish band above the lateral line from below the fourth 

 dorsal spine to the upper part of the tail, terminating at the commencement of the 

 caudal. A blue streak from angle of mouth across prseorbital to eye. 



Description. — This species somewhat resembles S. ciliatus in form, and S. bimaculatus 

 in colour. The head is considerably smaller than in the former, and is covered with 

 scales almost to the nostrils. The interorbital space is about three-fourths of the dia- 

 meter of the eye, and less than the length of the snout. The cleft of the mouth is 

 slightly oblique ; the maxillary reaches the vertical from the anterior of the orbit. The 

 prseorbital is half as broad as the eye. The spine at the upper posterior angle is 

 moderate, slightly fluted and pointed ; the plate beneath it has a very few slight denti- 

 culations. The prseoperculum has a narrow margin free from scales ; the posterior limb 

 descends obliquely forwards ; the angle is rounded and projecting. The denticulations 

 on the upper part of the posterior limb and those on the angle are strongest ; the inferior 

 limb is entire ; it is considerably shorter than the posterior one. The operculum has a 

 short prominent spine, and is covered with scales of rather small size. The suprascapula 

 is tolerably distinct and minutely serrated. 



The dorsal commences before the vertical from the base of pectorals, and terminates 

 a little behind the anal. The base of the soft portion is about two-thirds as long as that 

 of the spinous portion. The spines are moderately strong ; the fourth to seventh are the 

 longest. The former is contained twice and a third in the length of the head ; the second 



* Undetermined specimen [066]. 



