1 



PROCEEDINaS OF THE NATTONAL AfUSEUM. vol.xxvi. 



3. GEPHYROBERYX JAPONICUS (Doderlein). ' 



TniHiichllii/.'^ jdjxniicns DihiBRLVA^, Fisclic Japans, [, ISS.S, ]>. 10; Tokyo. 



Hoad 2i; depth ^. D. VII, 15; A. III. 12; P. F, U; V. I, »'.; pores 

 in the lateral line 80; a})dominal serra? 14. 



Hodv deep and compressed, and covered with small, rouo-h ctenoid 

 scales; the scales containing- the pores of the lateral line a tritle 

 eidaro-ed, and the scales on the front of the back very small. Head 

 very deep and compressed, the ridges of the l)ones somewhat elevated 

 and forming mucous cavities, over which are thin covering mem- 

 l)ranes; upper profile slightly convex, or nearly straight with the 

 snout very obtusely rounded; eye small, its posterior margin a little 

 nearer the gill-opening than the tip of the snout 3i in the head, a little 

 over 2 in the maxillary, and equal to the interorbital space; mouth 

 very oblique, the maxillary extending to below the posterior part of 

 the eye; nostrils large, the posterior the larger, directly in front of 

 the anterior margin of the eye above, and the anterior about half an 

 eye diameter distant; jaws rough, and with a single series of small 

 hrm teeth along the edges; the lower jaw projects and the symphj^sis 

 is somewhat knoli})ed, so that it protrudes a little in front; vomerine 

 teeth small; at the origin of the lateral line at the back part of the 

 head above a sharp spine, another on the posterior margin of the 

 opercle above, still another in front of the base of the pectoral, and 

 one at the lower part of the preoperculum, the latter strong, long, and 

 sharj); two small, short spines at the front of the snout; operculum 

 strongly striate; interorbital s[)ace convex; gill-opening large; gill- 

 rakers long, slender, pointed, seven-sixteenths; branchiostegals 8; 

 gill-membrane free over the isthmus. The dorsal tin begins a short 

 distance behind the gill-opening, the spinous part highest in the 

 middle, then descending to the soft dorsal, which is also higher in 

 front; tirst anal spines short, the third the longest; soft anal high in 

 front, sloping behind; pectoral long. If in the head; ventrals short, 

 not reaching the origin of the anal by half their length; caudal deeply 

 emarginate, the lobes pointed; rudimentary caudal ra3"s developed as 

 6 spines above and below. Lateral line inclined from the upper part 

 of the head to the base .of the caudal ; caudal peduncle three-fourths 

 of the e3"e; vent far behind ventrals, space from between the ventrals 

 to the anus with a single series of bon}' scutes or serra^. 



Color in alcohol, brown, the tins pale, the inside of the mouth 

 blackish, and the peritoneum black. Length 4^^^ inches. Here 

 described from an example dredged by the United States Fish Com- 

 mission steamer Alhatros.s in Suruga Bay at Station 3710. The species 

 is otherwise known only from the description given by Dr. Doderlein 

 of specimens from Tokyo, probably taken in Sagam-i Hay. Dr. Boulen- 



