16 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. G:\ 



with second enlarged and apparently nearly as long as soft anal fin ; 

 cavernous snout or muzzle and suborbital region; presence of large 

 pseudo-branchiae; soft dorsal and anal largely scaly from bases. 

 (Krets, comb or gill-raker; Sciaena.) 



SCIAENA DUBIA, new species. 



Head, 3i; depth, 3^; D. X, I, 23; A. II, 8, i; P. ii, 18; V. I, 5; 

 tubular scales (fallen) according to estimated pockets about 42? 

 from shoulder to caudal base; head widtli, 2-^ in its length; snout 4: 

 eye, 3^; maxillary, 2§; interorbital, 4; fourth dorsal spine, 2^; 

 second anal sj^ine, 25^, ; pectoral. If; ventral, If. 



Body elongate, compressed, rather fusiform. Caudal peduncle well 

 compressed, least depth about 1^ in its length or about 3 in head. 



Head compressed. Snout convex, length three-fourths its width. 

 Eye elevated, hind edge about midway in head length, its diameter 

 greater than snout. Mouth rather large, and lower jaw included. 

 Maxillary reaches first three-fifths in eye, its upper edge entirely; 

 ensheathed by preorbital; expansion 3 in eye. Chin with 4 pores 

 short median barbel. Teeth fine, minute, in narrow band in each 

 jaw; no others. Hind nostril vertical slit, much longer than front 

 one, which simple round pore midway in snout. Hind preopercle 

 and suprascapula edges entire. 



Gill-opening forward about to eye center. Gill-rakers 8-|-14, equal 

 filament's or about 2^ in eye. 



Scales mostly all fallen, few remaining ctenoid, in rows (according 

 to pockets) apparently more or less parallel with lateral line above 

 and horizontal below. Small scales on dorsal and caudal basally, and 

 largest and narrowly imbricated along sides medially. Scales show 

 about 6 basal radiating striae and about 30 short apical denticles, 

 and circuli very fine. Lateral line apparently mostly concurrent with 

 dorsal profile, little high along caudal peduncle side and tubes trifid. 



Spinous dorsal inserted over pectoral origin, fourth spine appar- 

 ently longest and first shortest. Soft dorsal inserted nearly midway 

 between front pupil edge and caudal base, front rays slightly longer. 

 Anal inserted nearer to caudal base than to pectoral, and second 

 spine enlarged, greatly longer than very short first spine or reaches 

 halfway to caudal base. Pectoral reaches at least three-fifths to anal. 



Color in alcohol : Back dull slaty brown, belly and lower surface 

 pale with silvery- white sheen. Fins and iris all dull brown. 



Length, 124 mm. 



Ty/^e.— Cat. No. 83309, U.S.N.M. No locality. Wilkes Exploring 

 Expedition. 



Only the above example known, and as it appears more closely 

 allied with the Indian species it may likely have been obtained in the 

 Philippines? It is also, unfortunately, in very poor condition. Re- 



