NEW PHILIPPINE PISHES FOWLER 



57 



spicuous tympanic spine close over third postocular spine ; 2 preorbital 

 spines, posterior larger and directed little backward; suborbital stay 

 with 4 spines, of which first on preorbital bone ; 4 preopercular spines, 

 upper largest, with small spine on outer basal part; 2 widely di- 

 vergent opercular spines, lower little posterior; humerus with broad 

 rounded keel, without spine. 



H.W.F.deL 



Figure 22. — Scorpaena meyalepis, new species. Type. 



Scales 25 to 28 + 2 close along and above lateral line; ..■bular 

 scales 22 or 23 + 1 or 2 in lateral line; 4 scales above, 9 below; 10 

 predorsal forward opposite hind pupil edge; 3 postoculars. Scales 

 on postocular, cheek and opercle, little smaller on occiput, rest of 

 head naked. Moderate scales on breast, chest, prepectoral region, and 

 caudal base, though much smaller than lateral scales of body ; small 

 scales on pectoral base. Lateral line high at first, axial, complete. 

 Scales with 7 or 8 basal radiating striae; 55 to 58 apical denticles, 

 with 3 or 4 transverse series of basal elements ; circuli fine. Nostril 

 with filament; first postero-supraorbital spine with filament nearly 

 long as eye; filament at occipital spine, long, fringed flap and pos- 

 terior preorbital spine, and another at upper preopercular spine. 



D. XII, 9, I or 10, I, third spine 21/2 to 2% in total head length, 

 fourth ray 214 to 2% ; A. Ill, 5, i, second spine 214 to 2%, first ray 

 21/4 to 2%; caudal 1%, convexly rounded behind; least depth of 

 caudal peduncle 41/8 to 5; pectoral 13/^5 to 1%, rays i, 9, x; ventral 

 I, 5, fin 1% to 2 in total head. 



Body brownish, mottled or variegated obscurely with darker on 

 back and sides. Under portions paler to whitish. Fins pale gen- 

 erally. Spinous dorsal with median row of dark blotches, obscurely 



