140 BULLETIN 10 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



rated and below with coarse serrations. Gill rakers 6+12, more than 

 y2 of eye of which 4 above and 3 below rudimentary. 



Scales 47 to 50 in lateral line to caudal base and 10 more on 

 latter ; 8 scales above lateral line, 16 below, 21 to 24 predorsal forward 

 opposite eye center of which 14 or 15 to occiput, 9 rows on cheek 

 of which 2 on preopercle flange. Scales in oblique rows above 

 lateral line, horizontal rows below. Tubes in lateral line sometimes 

 trifid. Scales with 8 to 11 basal radiating striae; apical denticles 

 74 to 89, very small, with 7 or 8 transverse series of basal elements ; 

 circuli fine. 



Dull brown on back, each row of scales above lateral line with 

 slightly darker median streak or very narrow band. Brown band 

 from side of snout end, through eye, not wider than pupil and back 

 to base of upper caudal lobe. Under surface of body silvery white. 

 Eye yellowish. Fins all pale brownish to whitish. 



Seychelles, Ceylon, Singapore, East Indies, Philippines, Tonkin, 

 China, Formosa, Riu Kiu, Japan, Queensland, Melanesia, Poly- 

 nesia. A slender species, with general rosy coloration and a dark 

 lateral band at all ages. Bleeker gives 262 mm. as the maximum for 

 22 examples. Day says the dark lateral band is not always present, 

 though such specimens have the olive stripe on the upper third of 

 the body nearly black. 



Bleeker has described Mesopriori ophuyseni which is evidently a 

 variant in which the dark lateral band is swollen as a slightly larger 

 blackish blotch opposite the vent. This dark lateral band may or 

 may not be continuous behind the blotch to the caudal. 



10963, 10964. Cataingan Bay, Dumurug Point, Masbate. April 19, 1908. Length 

 165 to 193 mm. 



9117, 13013. Catbalogan, Samar. April 15, 1908. Length 127 to 139 mm. 



6705, 6706, Catbalogan. April 16, 1908. Length 101 to 124 mm. 



2135 [D.5492]. Diuata Point (W.), S. 45° W., 15.2 miles (9° 12' 45" N., 125° 

 20' E.), between Leyte and Mindanao. August 1, 1909. Length 94 mm. 



18669 [1786]. Hinunangan Bay, Leyte. July 30, 1909. Length 108 mm. 



4864. Jolo market. February 13, 1908. Length 357 mm. 



16187. Jolo market. March 6-7, 1908. Length 183 mm. 



5199. Manila market. June 11, 1908. Length 270 mm. 



12029 to 12034. Nabatas Point, Samar. July 24, 1909. Length 139 to 181 mm. 



18646 [1296]. Saboon Island, Ragay Gulf, Luzon. March 10, 1909. Length 

 174 mm. Golden yellow; brown stripe from snout through eye straight 

 backward across lateral line to upper base of caudal ; rows of scales above 

 lateral line with stripe through center, forming oblique stripes on body ; simi- 

 larly below lateral line but much paler, completely fading when the fish 

 bleaches ; lower head, breast, and belly much paler ; dorsal body color, incised 

 tips opaque white, which continues as marginal line on anterior portion of soft 

 dorsal. Just below fin more deeply orange, front of anal white; caudal 

 orange ; ventrals very pale ; pectorals pale yellow, darker above. 



18400, 18401. Tataan, Tawi Tawi Group. Februai-y 20, 1908. Length 167 to 

 174 mm. 



