20 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol 6fi 



rays. P. japo7iicus is related, but has fewer scales (about 80, lateral 

 line 40-45), and more fin rays. Our specimens agree well with an 

 example of this species from Japan. Color bright red all over, the 

 tips of the fins black; ventral fins very long; bodj^ deep, 2i/o or less 

 in length; Length 2 feet, a much handsomer and more powerful 

 looking fish, with larger scales, than others of the genus. 



Family APHAREIDAE 

 Genus APHAREUS Cuvier and Valenciennes 



APHAREUS THOMPSONI Fowler. 



Described as new from a specimen obtained in the Honolulu fish 

 market by John W. Thompson, the artist of the Bishop Museum. 

 It has gill rakers 18+24, while A. furcatus Cuvier and Valenciennes 

 has but 6+16. In the nominal species, ^pAa?^eMS ■flavivultus jQn\s.m&^ 

 there are 5+15. 



Ill 



Family HISTIOPTERIDAE 

 Genus HISTIOPTERUS Schlegel 



HISTIOPTERUS TYPUS Bleeker. 



Fowler records a specimen from Hilo, perhaps the one of which 

 the cast w^as noted by Jordan and Jordan. 



Family SCORPAENIDAE 



Genus MERINTHE Snyder 



MERINTHE MACRGCEPHALA (Sauvage). 



In this species we find a surprising variation in the development 

 of the orbital cirrus. In some especially large examples this ap- 

 pendage is long, worm-like, more than half the length of head. In 

 others it is variously shorter, about as long as eye, as in the figure 

 given by Jordan and Evermann (p. 461, pi. 55). In still others, 

 it is reduced to a small black filament much shorter than pupil, and 

 in some small individuals it is not traceable at all. Those with the 

 shorter filaments are smaller in size, presumably younger. No other 

 difference can be found on the specimens. 



This species, taken from deeper Avater with Etelis^ Etelinus^ and 

 other red fishes, is in life bright scarlet, with dark olive or blackish 

 dots and markings. It is remarkable for the great length of the 

 head which is nearly, not quite, as long as the rest of the body. 



Genus IRACUNDUS Jordan and Evermann 



IRACUNDUS SIGNIFER Jordan and Evermann. 



A third specimen of this rare species is recorded by Fowler. 



