41. PRIACANTHUS. 217 



The posterior opening of the nostrils is a long, broad, ear-shaped 

 cavity, narrowest in the middle. The angle of the prajoperculum is 

 obtuse, with a more or less cylindrical spine of moderate length ; oper- 

 cidum with two short spines, a third larger one above, belonging to 

 the scapular bone ; sub- and interoperculum minutely serrated. Cau- 

 dalis tnmcated ; all the spines and rays of the dorsal and anal fins 

 with a striated or rough sm-face ; the length of the second dorsal 

 spine is nearly three times in that of the last ; ventral fins veiy long, 

 extending to the third soft ray of the anal. Rose-coloured ; dorsal 

 and ventral fins nearly entirely black ; anal and caudal fins with a 

 broad black margin ; pectorals yellowish. 

 Atlantic shores of South America. 



a. Adult. S. America. Presented by Sir R. Schomburgk. 



b. Young. Sine patria. 



I 



4. Priacanthus japonicus. 



Priacanthus japonicus, (Laiiffsdorf) Cuv. ^ Val. iii. p. 106. pi. 50 ; 

 Faun. Japon. p. 20 (not lileek.). 



DM.M3- ^-TFIi- L.lat.70. 



The height of the body is nearly three times in the total length, 

 the length of the head 3^ ; the diameter of the eye is two-fifths of 

 the latter. The posterior opening of the nostrils is long, broad, 

 ear-shaped, wider above than beneath. The angle of the praeoper- 

 cidum obtuse, with an acute, not serrated, triangular spine ; oper- 

 culum Avith two small spines, a third larger one above, belonging to 

 the scapular bone ; sub- and interoperculimi minutely serrated. 

 Caudalis ti'uncatcd ; all the spines and rays of the dorsal and anal 

 fins with a striated or rough sm-face ; the last dorsal spine is 2g as 

 long as the second, and much longer than the diameter of the eye ; 

 ventrals very long, extending beyond the third soft ray of the anal. 

 Rose-coloiu'cd ; the spinous doreal and the ventrals black. 



Cape Seas ; Chinese and Japanese Seas. 



a. Adult : stuffed. Cape Seas. Presented by Sir A. Smith. 



6. Skin, in spirits. Japan. 



c. Skin, in spirits. Japan. 



d. Skin, in spiints. Japan. 



e. Skin, in spirits. Japan. From Mr. Frank's Collection. 



/. Young. China Sea. Presented by Captain Sir Edward Belcher. 



This fish is probably only a climatal variety of Pr. bonariensis. 



5. Priacanthus niphonius. 



Cm: 4" Val. iii. p. 107 ; Faun. Jajxm. Poiss. p. 21. pi. 7 «. f. 1, 2. 

 The height of the body is 2f in the total length, the length of 



