PARALICHTHIN^ 85 



separated by a flat space, the upper slightly in advance of lower. Maxillary (in 

 adults) extending to well beyond posterior edge of eye, length about 2 in that of 

 head ; lower jaw scarcely projecting, ij to i§ in head. Teeth strong, canines well 

 developed. 15 to 18 gill-rakers on lower part of anterior arch. Scales ctenoid on 

 ocular side, cycloid on blind side ; 108 to 122 scales in lateral line ; supplementary 

 scales present. Dorsal (66) 68-84 : commencing behind posterior nostril of blind 

 side and just in front of or above anterior margin of eye. Anal (49) 51-63. Pectoral 

 of ocular side with 12 or 13 rays, length about i that of head. Caudal double-truncate , 

 caudal peduncle somewhat deeper than long. Greyish or brownish, speckled and 

 spotted with dark brown, the spots sometimes arranged in rings or half rings ; body- 

 often with numerous small white spots ; median fins mottled and spotted with darker ; 

 pectoral sometimes with irregular dark cross-bars. 



Fic. 50. — Paralichlkys otivaceiis. B.M. (N.H.) 79. 



X i. 



Type. — Leiden Museum. 



Distribution. — Coasts of China and Japan. 



Specimens Examined ; 



Intern. Fisheries Exhib. 



Chen. 



Swinhoe. 



Light. 



Wu. 



Swinhoe. 



" Challenger '*. 

 Jordan. 



Tokyo Imp. Vn 



Kishinouye. 



Jordan. 



Also one from Hong-Kong {Mus. Conip. Zool.). 



The variation in the number of dorsal and anal rays in this species is very marked, 

 but there appears to be no very definite increase in number from south to north as 

 suggested by Jordan and Hubbs.* The following table shows the number of dorsal 

 and anal rays in selected specimens from several localities. 



iiples ( 



ited, however, 



