NO. 1351. SCORP.ENOID FISHES OF JAPAN— JORDAN AND STARKS. 163 



without a y^'iiiphj'seal knob; teeth in moderate bands on jaws; in nar- 

 row l)ands on vomer and palatines. Interor])ital narrow in front, 

 equal to half the diameter of eye, increasing to twice that width over 

 middle of eye. Superorbital rim raised in a slight crest, with a pair 

 of ridges between, which diverge posteriorly. Posterior end of pre- 

 orbital armed with a long, sharp, curved spine, which reaches nearly 

 to tip of maxillar}-; anterior lower edge with a very small spine 

 inclined back and downward. A pair of spines on upper part of head 

 in line with superorbital rim, and a couple behind eye in line with 

 anterior end of lateral line. Suborbitals with a broken ridge, but 

 without spines, ending in upper preopercle spine. Freopercle with 4 

 spines and traces of a fifth below; long and sharp above, growing 

 evenly and gradually shorter below. Last gill arch without a slit 



Fig. 17.— Ocosia vespa. 



l)(>hind. Gill rakers rudimentary, represented by 4 or 5 small 

 tubercles. 



No notch between soft rays and spines of dorsal. Spinous dorsal 

 very high; its origin above middle of eye; its first spine equal in 

 length to orbit and contained 2f times in second; the anterior (except 

 the first) spines the longest, decreasing gradually, but very slightly, 

 in length to the last, which is shorter than second spine from one-half 

 to four-fifths eye. Soft dorsal rays scarcely, or xevy slightly, longer 

 than posterior spines, decreasing quickly in length behind middle rays; 

 the last ray adnate to body and reaching a little past base of caudal. 

 Pectoral reaches beyond tips of ventrals, but scarcely to front of anal; 

 it has 12 rays, the fifth or sixth from the top the longest. Ventrals 

 with spine and 5 rays, their tips scarcely reaching to vent. First 

 anal spine equal in length to diameter of eye, and contained If, in third 

 spine; second spine intermediate in length. Second anal ray the long- 



