NO. 1358. 



JAPANESE SCULPINS— JORDAN AND STARKS. 



323 



Body entirely hispid with small prickles, except an area on side of 

 caudal peduncle (which does not extend anterior to base of last anal 

 ray), and a suljcircular area behind base of pectoral about the size of 

 eye. Prickles more scattered on head; a few ])ehind end of niaxiUary, 

 some on cheek and opercle, a few on top and side of head l)ehind eye, 

 and some between mandibles. No naked area following lateral line. 

 Fins naked. 



Spinous dorsal divided into 3 portions and slightly connected to soft 

 dorsal. The hrst 4 spines very high ; the last one not decreased greatly 

 in length; the membrane between them scarcel}^ incised; the next por- 

 tion a single spine; shorter than the spines on each side of it; the 

 membrane deeply incised before and behind it; its upper half free; 

 the third portion elevated in front but decreasing rapidly in height to 

 its fourth spine, which is not as long as pupil. The longest dorsal 

 rays behind the middle of the tin; the last 4 or 5 rays decreasing 



J 4 .^ 



4/f:/. 





Fig. 40. — Blkpsias draciscus. 



rapidh" in length, so that their tips do not reach so far ])ack as those 

 anterior to them, which reach a little past base of caudal when 

 depressed; last ray adnate to caudal peduncle for nearly its whole 

 length. Anal similar to soft dorsal, but lower; its rays just reaching 

 caudal; its last ray adnate for only half its length. Pectoral long and 

 rounded posteriorly; its tip reaching to al)ove base of tifth or sixth anal 

 ray. Ventrals with 3 rays each; the middle ray the longest; l)urcly 

 reaching to vent. Caudal long and truncate; its angles rounded. 



Color dark brown, growing lighter below; top of head and nape 

 blackish; six irregular narrow black bars on back not reaching to 

 lateral line; nak(>d ar(>a under pectoral light, and a light area a little 

 behind it; belly, throat, and chin pale; the tentacles on chin sometimes 

 dusky. A dark vertical bar from eye to end of maxillary, and another 

 from eye across cheek; cheek and opercle otherwise mottled with 

 brown; spinous dorsal uniformly dusky; soft dorsal and anal irregu- 



