FISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND ADJACENT SEAS 315 



vomer and palatines; interorbital 4 to 434, slightly convex; preoper- 

 cle edge entire. Gill rakers 5 + 9, lanceolate, some short and clavate, 

 length 2% in eye. 



Scales 19 or 20 in lateral line in upper section, 8 or 9 in lower sec- 

 tion to caudal base and 3 more on latter; 3 scales above, 12 below, 11 

 predorsal to occiput, 3 rows on cheek to preopercle flange; 3 rows of 

 scales along dorsals and anals and caudal base scaled; maxillary 

 naked; scales with 8 basal radiating striae; sometimes few very 

 feeble minute apical denticles; circuli very fine. 



D. XI, 9, i, eleventh spine 1^ to 1% in total head length, sixth 

 ray 2% to 3 in combined head and body to caudal base; A. Ill, 9, 

 i, third spine V/s to 2 in head, sixth ray 234 to 2^ in combined head 

 and body to caudal base, caudal 1 Yi t° 1 Vz ', ends in long median point ; 

 least depth of caudal peduncle 2 in head; pectoral lKo; ventral \% 

 to 23^8 in combined head and body to caudal base. 



Dark brown, and at juncture of each scale row longitudinally on 

 body dark or blackish band. Iris dark brown. Body and fins 

 except pectoral which pale brown all with variable, scattered round 

 brilliant white spots, all smaller than pupil. On last dorsal rays a 

 large black white edged ocellus, large as eye. Ventral blackish like 

 vertical fins and with small white spots. 



Red Sea, Zanzibar, Natal, Madagascar, Seychelles, India, Ceylon, 

 Andamans, East Indies, Philippines, China, Japan, Australia, East 

 Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia. Quite variable, also 

 color as well and minor structural variations •frequent. Boulenger 

 remarks "I have not been able to satisfy myself of the validity of 

 the character pointed out by Vaillant for distinguishing P. nigricans 

 from P. coratticola, as the material before me show it to be not even 

 constant on the same individual. Professor Vaillant was probably 

 deceived by examining isolated detached scales of the two supposed 

 species." We fail likewise to find anything tangible to separate 

 P. ndkaliarae and P. semeion. 



35 examples. Batan Island. July 22, 1909. Length 20 to 53 mm. 



11 examples. Batan Island. June 5, 1909. Length 18 to 60 mm. 



17034 (1519). Bisucay Island, near Cuyo. April 9, 1909. Length 56 mm. 



4635 (101). Bubuan Island. February 14, 1909. Length 59 mm. 



(D. 5555.) Cabalian Point, Jolo. N. 50° W. 3.3 miles (5° 51' 15" N., 120° 58' 



35" E.), in 34 fathoms. September 18, 1909. Length 28 mm. (1951). 

 Twenty eight examples. Canimo Pass, near Daet. June 15, 1909. Length 38 



to 76 mm. 

 Seven examples. Cataingan Bay, Masbate. April 18, 1908. Length 31 to 71 



mm. (563, 564). 

 21099, 22372, 22373. Maculabo Island. June 14, 1909. Length 18 to 129 mm. 



(1661, 1665). 27 examples. 

 7314. Mantacao Island, west coast of Bohol. April 8, 1908. Length 44 mm. 

 Two examples. Mariveles Bay. September 22, 1908. Length 24 mm. 

 One example. Masongas Island. In coral head. October 2, 1908. Length 19 



mm. 



