NEW FISHES FROM WESTERN PACIFIC — BOLIN 331 



vomer; none on palatines. No slit behind last gill. Gill rakers in 

 form of short tubercles. Anal fin longer than second dorsal; pelvics 

 I, 3. Head and body almost completely covered with strongly 

 ctenoid scales. 



This monotypic genus appears to be quite isolated. In some re- 

 spects it resembles Ricuzenius Jordan and Starks, in others Stelgistrum 

 Jordan and Starks; but in each case the relationship is remote. 



ASTKOCOTTUS LEPROPS,* new species 



Figure 27; Plate 34, B 



Diagnosis. — Body depressed throughout, deepest at base of pelvics, 

 the distance from origin of first dorsal to pelvic base 1.9 in head, 

 width at dorsal end of pectoral base 1.6 in head. Ventral body con- 

 tour practically straight, dorsal contour forming an even gently convex 



Figure 27.— Astrocottus leprops, new genus, new species: a, External, and 6, internal view of lateral line 

 scale: c, scales from dorsal part of body. 



curve from deepest point to very slender caudal peduncle, the least 

 depth of which is 2.7 in orbit. 



Head 3.3 in standard length; snout 1.2 in orbit, moderately steep, 

 forming an angle of about 65° with chin. Lower jaw slightly shorter 

 than upper, barely included; maxillary reaching slightly beyond 

 anterior margin of pupil. Anterior and posterior nostrils both in 

 short heavy tubes about equal in length to nasal spines. Size of eye 

 moderate, diameter of orbit 3.2 in head. Suborbital wddth moderate, 

 3.0 in orbit. Interorbital space flat, narrow, about 2.0 in posterior 

 width of maxillary. Top of head gently concave. Nasal spines 

 small, their length equal to 0.5 interorbital space. Three simple 

 preopercular spines, all very short; the upper one slightly curved 

 upward; the middle one broad and triangular; the lower one a simple 

 obtuse expansion of the preopercular border. No other spines on 

 head. Pores of head inconspicuous; those of suborbital series in a 

 fairly definite row along the ventral margin, with small supernumerary 

 pores just above; a wide band of numerous small pores on preopercle 



* From Xeirpoj, scaly + w^, face. 



