N0.1351. SCORP.ENOID FISHES OF JAPAN— JORDAN AND STAKKS'. 169 



imu'li hrokcn and ii regular crossbars; \v1k'h tliosc arc evident. Ihcrc 

 is one under front of soft dorsal, one undi'r posterior part of soft 

 dorsal and on eaudal peduncle, one across body under pectoral, one at 

 nape, and one across interorbital space. Radiating bars coniinonly 

 present from eye; these extending- on iris nearly to pupil, leaxing a 

 narrow silvery ring of the iris aroiuul pupil; one downward across 

 maxillary, one downward across cheek, one downward and backward 

 to preopercle spine, one upward and backward toward base of second 

 dorsal spine. A spot usually of the light ground color present just 

 above or resting on lateral line, situated at a point midway between 

 tip of snout and noddle of caudal rays; sometimes it is made conspic- 

 uous with opacpie white pigment especially in females, liays of soft 

 fins crossed with narrow wa\\v lines, except ventrals, which are white 

 with dusln' tips. Spinous dorsal irregularly mar])led; a lai'ge deep 

 l>lack blotch from sixth to ninth ray, extending slightly on l)ack. 

 Peritoneum white. 



A fresh specimen showed the following color: Olive spotted with 

 darker olive; a jet-l)lack spot on back; lower fins and belly rosy; 

 doisal l)l()tched with brownish red, a pale spot above lateral line. 

 The coloration is sul)ject to great variation in degree of mottling. The 

 females are rather duller in color and with lower spines. 



This description is based on many specimens fi'om Tokyo. Tomo in 



1 jingo, Misaki, Kobe, and Wakanoura. 



According to Dr. (Tunther, this specic^s (which he calls vai'. ////^A/)is 

 distinguished from Paran titroixxioii loiKjisjjlnls of the East Indies by 

 the virtual absence of scales. 



{;ri(hc/\ red; p!n)}(i^ fin.) 



22. ERISPHEX Jordan and Starks. 

 Erhplti'x Jordan and Stakks, new genus (puttii). 

 Body oblong, compressed, scahdess, but covered with velvety pric- 

 kles. Head without spines or rough crests al>ove; preorbital with 



2 spines below; preopercle with 3 or 4 blunt spines, opercle with 2 

 spines; mouth moderate; t(H>th on the \omer, none on the j)alatines. 

 Dorsal tin continuous, notched after the third or fourth spine, liegin- 

 ning over the e3^e, of 11 to 18 spines and !> to 11 soft rays; pectorals 

 lounded, without free rays; anal with "1 spini^s and s to !'» soft rays; 

 ventral ra^s 1, 2, or I, ?>. 



Small fishes of the East Indies, ranging northward to flapan. From 

 Cocofi'opux Kau]) {cr/i/DafuH)^ the most nearly related geiuis. the 

 Japanese genus ditier in the presence of but 1 or 2 soft rays in the 

 ventrals instead of 5. 



{^'pi, very; G(j)tS^ wasp.) 

 a. Dorsal rays XI, 18; the 3 anterior spines set off l)y a Uivteli; maxillary ri'acliing 



to opposite middle of eye jioltii, 50. 



aa. Dorsal i-ays XIII, 10; the 4 anterior spines set off hy a notch; maxillary barely 

 reaching front of eye bK/nshimeim,^, 51. 



