45 311 



Boshu (Awa), Japan (S. cganopterus, S. paradoxus); Jogashima, Japan (S. cganopierus); 

 Yenoura, Japan (S. paradoxus); Yodomi, Japan {S. paradoxus {"leptosoma")). All 

 the Japanese localities are from the eastern coast of Hondo near the entrance to 

 the Bay of Tokyo. Regarding their habits nothing definite is known; they most 

 likely occur among sea-weeds, probably in shallow water; in fact two specimens of 

 S. cganopterus Jogashima kindly sent by Dr. Tanaka were taken "among sargassum". 

 The time of breeding is unknown; I may only mention that a female S. paradoxus 

 in my possession taken at Yenoura, Suruga Gulf, ' i:; 1903, carried eggs with em- 

 bryos and hatched embryos in the pouch. 



As all current descriptions contain some more or less grave errors I have 

 found it advisable to conclude my account of the anatomical structure with a 

 revised definition of the genus and of the two species examined. 



The following anatomical description has mainly been based on specimens of 

 Sol. cganopterus; the few points in which Sol. paradoxus differs are so small and 

 insignificant that they can most conveniently be included in the definition of this 

 species as given below. 



Before describing the structures found by dissection I wish to point out a 

 few features visible from without which seem not to have been observed hitherto 

 or at least not to have been noted in the descriptions or figures known to me. 



Such are the peculiar small cutaneous prolongations or "villi" scattered over 

 a great part or most of the skin, also on that of the fins. In some specimens they 

 are all quite small and difficult to see, in others some of them are at certain places 

 rather prominent and easily seen, showing a tendency to symmetrical arrangement. 

 The smallest ones are simple, low elevations, or like bluntly conical warts; the 

 more developed are not only larger but may be more or less branched. In male 

 specimens of S. cganopterus they are specially large and frequently branched behind 

 the anus, at the posterior margins and on the ventral sides of the "hump" carrying 

 the anal and second dorsal fins; in some specimens in the British Museum very 

 visible papillæ form a ring round (on) the eyeball, and these papillæ seem always 

 to be present, but often difficult to see. They occur in both sexes and in both 

 species examined,* but seem to be very variable as to their number and develop- 

 ment (seasonal? perhaps more strongly developed at breeding time 7)^''. At the 

 mandibular symphysis S. cganopterus has a well developed barbel; in spite of its 

 size it has hitherto been overlooked, most likely because it is concealed between 

 the mandibular rami. In S. paradoxus it seems less developed. 



In addition to the well-known sexual difference shown by the ventral fins, 



DuMÉRiL gives tlie name correctly (12 b, p. 498): "Les 3 indiv. décrits par M. BleeUer . . . ont été pris 

 dans la mer, à l'île Wahai et au nord de l'île Ceram ". Waliai is (according to Andree's and Stieler's 

 maps) a town on the north coast of Ceram. 



* In 2 specimens of S. paradoxus in the Brit. Museum (a from Amboyna, Dr. Bleeker's collection, 

 b from the Maldives, coll. S.Gardiner) I found them strongly developed; less visible on most of the 

 specimens of S. cganopterus, but always distinguishable, mostly so on spec, g (from China, coll. by Sir 

 E. Belcher). 



