756 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Head naked, the rest of the body covered with elongate smooth 

 cycloid scales. Along the bases of the dorsal and anal anteriorly a 

 rather thin broad membrane concealing the bases of the tin rays. 



Dorsal originating a little behind the l)ase of the pectoral, confluent 

 with the anal and caudal, the latter terminating in a sharp point; pec- 

 toral long, its base thick, broad, and the middle raysjorming a blunt 

 angle; nostrils close together and situated a little posterior to the pos- 

 terior margin of the preoperculum. Lateral line high in front, curved 

 till about over the vent, when it runs medianly along the sides to the 

 })ase of the caudal. 



Color in alcohol uniform dark ])rown; pectorals, dorsal, caudal, anal, 

 and inside of gill-opening ])lack; the lilaments on the head blackish; 

 lower surface of the head slightly pale. 



Total length. L5f inches (400 millimeters). 



Fici. 5.— Myxocepiialus japonicus. 



This species is known- to us from the specimen described above, col- 

 lected at Uraga, near Misaki, by Capt. Alan Owston. It differs from 

 Steindachner's description somewhat, especially in the presence of 

 rudimentary or small pseudobranchife, slightly broader head, andi 

 greater number of fin rays. ' 



9. SIREMBO Bleeker. 



Sirembo Bleeker, Art. Hoc. .Sci. Iiido. Nederl., Ill, Japan, IV, 1858, p. 22 



{imberbis). i 



Brotella Kaup, Wieginann's Archiv, 1858, p. 92 {iinberbiti) . I 



Body elongate, coAcred with very small scales. Lateral line simple, 

 well developed anteriorly, indistinct behind. Eye moderate, vertical 

 fins united; ventral fins each reduced to a single filament, the two 

 inserted close together, on the humeral symphysis. Jaws, vomer, and 

 palatines with bands of villiform teeth. Lower jaw included. Snout 

 without barbels. Air-liladder present. Preopercle unarmed; opercle 

 with spines. Shore fishes of Japan. 



(Name unexplained.) 



