820 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



VOL. XXVII. 



(liiiiiicter of the eye; the posterior outline of the tin slightly concave; 

 the second spine 2^ to 2i in head; behind it the spines g-raduall}^ 

 leno-thened to the highest. Soft dorsal and anal similar in form and 

 height, beginning and ending opposite to each other; the highest rays 

 2i in head; the last rays not adnate to caudal peduncle; their tips not 

 reaching to base of caudal rays. The caudal rays are the onl}" divided 

 rays; they are divided once and are widely forked; caudal fin forked, 

 or very deeply concave when tin is spread; the longest rays li to 1^ 

 in head, the middle rays If to 2. Ventral with 1 concealed spine 

 and 2 soft rays; its tip does not reach vent; its length 4 in head. 

 Pectoral with 14 rays; the lower 5 slightl}" swollen; tip of fin reaches 

 to above base of second or third anal ray, its length If in head. 



Color nearly uniform dark brown above, olive green in life, shad- 

 ing lighter below, green shaded in life; belly white; occasionally back 

 and sides are mottled with an irregular network of dark-ln-own lines; 



■/wA;"/9]p^« 



Fig. 38.— Vellitor centropomus. 



one or two of the mottled specimens show a couple of white vertical 

 spots on side under posterior third of pectoral; lips dark; under parts 

 of head white; spinous dorsal dusky, sometimes showing traces of 

 darker irregular lines obliquely across spines; usually there is a trans- 

 parent spot at base of last 2 spines; soft dorsal and anal uniform 

 dusky, and without markings; pectoral colorless or .slightly dusky; 

 ventrals white; caudal dusky, crossed with several irregular darker 

 lines, sometimes uniform dusky. We note that in the specimens 

 most mottled, as is the case with the one figured, the caudal is plain. 

 In the specimens which are plain olive the caudal is usually faintly 

 barred with dark. I'hese difl'erences may be s^^xual. 



Numerous specimens were taken at Misaki, in the shallow bays 

 near the shore. The largest is 12 cm. in length. A specimen was 

 also sent by Mr. Otaki from the market of Tokyo. 



{ee7itroj)o//tu.s, the Robalo, from the likeness in form as seen from 

 the side.) 



