280 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



vol. 38. 



but not so much so as in Phuronichihys verticalis. On it are two 

 large prominent spines and a bony tubercle as follows: A large sharp 

 spine pointing outward from the anterior end; a small tubercle in 

 front of the lower orbit: and a large sharp spine pointing straight 

 backward from the posterior end. On the posterior margin of the 

 upper orbit are one or two very small tubercles, and a larger one is 

 present on the anterior margin of the upper orbit. The maxillary 

 extends to the anterior margin of the lower pupil, and is hidden 

 anteriorly on the eyed side by the forward extension of the interor- 

 bital ridge. At the posterior end of the mandible there is a prominent 

 angle. There are no teeth on the o\(h\ side of either jaw, but bands 

 of minute teeth on the blind side of both. The left nostrils are as 

 near or nearer to the right nostrils than to the dorsal fin. 



The dorsal fin begins at the level of the snout, or a little above, and 

 has six rays on the blind side. The ventral of the blind side is anterior 

 to that of the eyed side, and farther from the ventral median edge of 

 the body. The caudal peduncle is somewhat shorter and not so deep 

 as that of Pleuronicht/n/s vert 'walls. 



The scales are very small and not imbricated in adults anteriorly. 

 The lateral line has a dorsal branch running back to about the 

 fortieth dorsal ray, but the short anterior branch may be absent or 

 present. 



The color in alcohol is a light grayish brown, with small leopard-like 

 dark brown spots scattered rather uniformly and thickly over the 

 body and vertical fins. There are no indications of ocellated spots, 

 or of regularly placed light spots such as are found on mo-i of the 

 American species. Among the specimens at hand are sonic colored 

 partially or entirely on both sides. These have; in the latter case, 

 more symmetrical pectoral and ventral fins: the upper eye more 

 nearly on the dorsal outline of the body, and the dorsal beginning on 

 a small free lobe overhanging the left margin of the upper orbit. 



Here described from numerous specimens from Tsuruga and 

 Aomori, Japan 



Measurements of Pleuronichthys cornutus. 



Length of body without caudal, in mm 



Depth of body in hundredths ol Length 



Length ol head 



Longitudinal diameter of upper orbll 



Distance aero < > ■ • f l» orbits 



Length ol maxillary 



Ventral of eyed Ide no tenor to that of blind.. 



Length of caudal peduncle 



Depth of caudal pod uncle 



Number Ol dorsal rays 



Anal rays 



Scales, below lateral tine, in longitudinal series 



Gill-rakers on first gill arches 



1 15 

 55 

 24 



10 



r. 



1.5 



12 



7.". 



54 



100 



3+6 



3+6 



