FISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND ADJACENT SEAS 137 



% in eye, expansion 1% to 2% in eye, length 21/3 to 2% in head from 

 snout tip; band of villiform teeth in each jaw, outer row enlarged, 

 with pair of canines in front of each; band of villiform teeth on 

 vomer and palatines; interorbital 3% to 414, flattened; preopercle 

 edge little undulated, finely serrated, except slightly larger serrae at 

 corners and no bony subopercular knob. Gill rakers 8 + 18, about 2 

 in eye, 3 above and 2 below rudimentary. 



Scales 48 or 49 in lateral line to caudal base with 5 more on 

 latter; 6 scales above lateral line, 13 below, 13 predorsal forward 

 to occiput and 8 more till opposite eye center, 6 rows on cheek. 

 Scales with 9 basal radiating striae ; apical denticles 70, with 3 trans- 

 verse series of basal elements; circuli fine. 



D. XI, 12 I, fourth spine 21/4 to 21/2 in total head length, eleventh 

 spine 414 to 4%, first ray 3 to 314 ; A. Ill, 8, i, second spine 3l^ to 

 3%, first ray 2% to 3; caudal 1% to li^, little emarginate; least 

 depth of caudal peduncle 3i/4 to 3%; pectoral 1% to 1%; ventral 1% 

 to 1%. 



Back olive, below whitish, colors contrasted by deep brown longi- 

 tudinal band from snout tip, through eye and out over supero me- 

 dian caudal rays. On back above lateral line, white spot smaller 

 than pupil, below middle of spinous dorsal and another below middle 

 of soft dorsal. Fins all pale brown. Deep brown spot in pectoral 

 axil, shows as small spot at pectoral origin. 



Ceylon, India, Andamans, East Indies, Philippines. Known by 

 its small size. Blocker's series of 37 examples were 101 to 206 mm. 

 He says Mesoprio7i elongatus Hombron and Jacquinot is similar 

 in most every way, except it does not show the two white spots on 

 each side of the back. D. XI, 12; A. Ill, 7. Clear brown on back, 

 below silvery white. Fins brownish. Length 190 mm. 



Mesoprion hleekeri Glinther is also described without mention of 

 the two white spots on each side of the back. 



In the series below a number have the lower surface of the head 

 dark brown and an indefinite dark brown band may extend back- 

 ward from each side of the breast, fading out behind, though some- 

 times even reaching the caudal peduncle. The two white spots on 

 the back, each side above, are constantly present though they may 

 vary a little in position, also the anterior may often be variably 

 similar. Frequently a fifth white spot may also be present on the 

 upper surface of the caudal peduncle. The white spots are also 

 present in the young, but less distinct or more or less gray. 



9010. Busin Harbor, Burias Island. April 22, 1908. Length 19-7 mm. 



9217. Camp Overton, Mindanao. August 6, 1909. Length 176 mm. 



17424. Candaraman Island, North Balabac Strait. January 4, 1909. Length 



203 mm. 

 16662. Canimo Island, near Daet. June 15, 1909. Length 164 mm. 

 10610, 19855. Cataingan Bay, Masbate. April 18, 1908. Length 113 to 125 mm. 



