FISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE AND ADJACENT SEAS 143 



striae; apical denticles 128 to 139, with 1 to 4 tranverse series of 

 basal elements; circuli very fine. 



D. XIII, 11, I or 12, I, thirteenth spine IH to 13^ in head, third 

 ray 2% to 3 in combined head and body; A. II, 13, i or 14, i, second 

 spine IM in head, fifth ray 2 J^ to 3 V^ in combined head and body; 

 caudal 2% to 2^, forked; pectoral 3; ventral 2% to 2%; least depth 

 of caudal peduncle 1% to 2 in head. 



Light brown generally, paler or with buff tinge below and on soft 

 dorsal, caudal, anal, and paired fins. Scales of head each with gray 

 blue spot in young, smaller and less conspicuous with age. Often 

 gray blue line along lower eye edge. In young scales of chest and 

 breast each with gray blotch. Iris brown. 



East Indies and abundant in the Philippines. The young differ 

 a little from the adults in that the scales on the top of the head are 

 each marked with a large blue spot bordered with dark brown. 

 Large blue gray spots also on cheeks and opercles. Though small 

 examples also have a single row of scales on the infraorbitals they 

 disappear largely below and posteriorly, with age. The blue infra- 

 orbital band is always conspicuous. Small examples may also show 

 traces of obsolete dark blotches along edge of back, first at origin of 

 spinous dorsal, next 2 at base of spinous dorsal, and last at base of 

 soft dorsal. Altogether the species is large, the body deep and 

 rounded with hghf colors. 



28 examples, Biri Channel. June 1, 1909. Length, 42 to 81 mm. 

 6 examples, Biri Channel. June 2, 1909. Length, 76 to 80 mm. 

 9493. 26 examples. Bolalo Bay, Palawan. December 21, 1908. Length, 38 

 to 84 mm. 



1 example, Bumbum Island. September 25, 1909. Length, 80 mm. 



2 examples, Busin Harbor, Burias Island. March 7, 1909. Length, 43 to 

 77 mm. 



8 examples, Busin Harbor, Burias Island. March 8, 1909. Length, 63 to 107 

 mm. [314 to 316.] Dark green above, margins of scales darker; lower por- 

 tions paler with silvery or golden washes; breast and lower head dusky; on 

 lower side posteriorly centers of scales with short stripes resembling tube, 

 giving rise to indefinite longitudinal lines; cheek and opercles with bluish- 

 green spots showing ultramarine below. Dorsal body-color, tips of spines 

 with slaty shades. Anal similar, but lighter. All verticals become dusky 

 distally. Ventral with dusky green and blue shades. Pectoral plain dusky. 

 Iris golden, with dusk}-. 



176, 177, 179, 307. Same data. Length, 77 to 87 mm. 



8 examples, Busin Harbor. ' June 2, 1909. Length, 73 to 79 mm. 



3 examples, Busin Harbor, Burias Island. April 22, 1908. Length, 78 to 91 mm* 

 2 examples, Butauanan Island. June 13, 1909. Length, 64 to 80 mm. 



11 examples, Candaraman Island, Balabac. January 4, 1909. Length, 58 to 

 92 mm. 



21835. Danawan Island and Si Amil Island. September 27, 1909. 6 examples- 

 Length, 107 to 140 mm. 



1 example, Doworra Island. December 2, 1909. Length, 128 mm. 



