BOTHIN^ 



237 



Depth of body 1 J to it in the length, length of head 4 J to 4^. Profile of head 

 distinctly convex in front of upper eye, concave in front and just above lower eye. 

 Diameter of eye 3 J in length of head ; interorbital width more than twice diameter of 

 eye : anterior edge of upper eye above posterior part of lower ; each eye with a large 

 membranous flap on its hinder part in the male. Male with a strong spine on the 

 snout and another at symphysis of lower jaw ; some smaller spines round orbits. 

 Maxillary extending to below anterior edge of eye, length 3* in that of head. Teeth 

 more strongly developed on blind side of jaws. 6 short giil-rakers on lower part of 

 anterior arch. Scales all cycloid on ocular side, except at extreme upper and lower 

 edges of body, where they are ctenoid ; those of blind side cycloid ; 104 scales in 



Fig. 179. — Bothus myriaster. Paris Museum (Indo-China). 



lateral line. Dorsal 93-95. Anal 67-71. Pectoral of ocular side with 8 or 9 rays, 

 upper rays prolonged and filamentous in the male, longest more than twice as long 

 as head. Caudal obtusely pointed. Pale brownish : head and body with numerous 

 small brown spots ringed with pale brown, paler than the ground-colour, and pale 

 blue spots ringed with dark brown ; a diffuse dark blotch at junction of straight and 

 curved parts of lateral line and another more distinct blotch at the middle of its 

 straight portion ; dorsal and anal fins with small brown dots, and each with a row of 

 larger dusky spots ; caudal dark at base and at tip of rays, a pale band across the 

 middle ; pectoral with traces of faint cross-bars ; blind side of fish yellowish-white 

 anteriorly, becoming dark bro\vn posteriorly ; a number of narrow, wavy, dark 

 transverse bars (blue in life) just in front of the posterior dark portion. 



Type. — Leiden Museum. 



Distribution. — Indo-China; coast of China (?) and Japan ; Formosa. 



Specimens Ex.mhined : 



? I (43 ■ 



!(<?,. I 



China Seas. 

 Keerung, Formosa. 



Belcher. 

 Tokyo In 



ip. Univ. 



Also one {^, 190 mm.) from Indo-China (Paris Mus.). 



