DISCUSSION Ol^ SPECIES AND THEIR DISTKIBUTION. 



351 



The .single dorsaUiii extends from the capital crest to the eaudal liii, from wliicli it 

 is not easily distinguislied. Behind tiic long, bony ray already mentioned it is low, the 

 middle portion being higher than the rest. The base is sheathed in transparent membrane 

 an extension of the skin. The pectoral fins are of moderate size, i)laced low down, and at 

 a distance from the tip of the lower jaw e«iual to abont an eighth of the total length of the 

 fish. The first ray is bony and very strong, but not longer than the rest, which are 

 branched. The ventral fins are very sliort, and are inserted a little behind the jKictoral 

 fins, and only slightly below them. Only five slender, simple rays were connted in tlie 

 specimen. The anal fin is low, it is i)!aced far behind, near the caadal fin, and its first 

 three or four rays are short. The vent is placed just before the fin. The tail behind the 

 anal fin has parallel margins, and is much comiiressed. It is low, and its h)wcr edge is 

 flnless, whilst its upper edge carries the post(aior portion of the dorsal tin. Tlie ciiiidal 

 fin is short, and is not well distinguished from the doisal fin; but there seem to be fifteen 

 rays, viz, 10 below the lateral fine and 5 above. The lower angle only projects. This fin 

 is not set on oblicjuely, as in some of the genera of the family. 



The unarmed lateral line descends at an angle of 45^ from the angle of the capital 

 crest to behind the eye; it is then stiaight along the body to the base of the eandal fin. 



The stomach is eaical, narrow, and tapers d(jwnwards. Numerous c;eca are attached to 

 the intestine. The intestinal canal is long and straight; the egg-sac long and forked; the 

 liver of moderate size. 



i OF .MEASriiEMENTS. 

 IucIk'8. 



Total length 



Height (14 iuches fmin snout) 



Height of head througli the eye 



Thickness for the greater part of Ixidy 



Head 



Eye: 



Diameter 



Distance from front of licail 



Distance from edge of crest 



Month : 



Kictns 



\Vidth 



Teetli, kngth 



Miixillary, width below 



Dorsal : 



Length of tirst ray 



Height of middle port ion 



50 



1} 



'■in. 

 1,( 



1-1 



Inrhf.s 



l'ecti)rals: 



I'cn-th 3i 



I >ista.nce frcini lip of lower jaw . . . . 



Distance from lower edge of boily 



Width of base , 



Veutrals : 



Length 



Distance from root of pectorals 



Anal: 



Height 



Distance from caudal 



Tail, hciglit , 



Caudal, Icngtli at lower angle 



6J 

 li- 





LOPHOTES C.VPELLEI, Temminck and Scui.Er,Er,. (Kigun^ .'SllO.) 



Lopliotea Capellei, Temminciv and Sciileijel, Fauna Japonica, Poissous, i:)'.', pi. i.xxi. — (Gunther, (';it. Fish. 

 Brit. Mu8., 111,312.) 



A Lopliotes Laving the length of the head equal to the height of the body, and con- 

 tained abont 7 times iu total length. The eyes very large, their diameter contained ;}.J 

 times in the length of the head; the eye nearer to the throiit than to the back. The iingle 

 of the head iu front somewhat less acute tliau in L. Crpedianiis. The length of the snout 

 slightly less than the diameter of the eye. Mouth nniderate, the tip of the maxillary 

 reaching to tlie vertical from the anterior margin of the orbit. Teeth similar to those of 

 the European specicAS. Edge of preoperculum rounded, with a somewhat acute angle. 

 The operculum rounded, its upper edge a little emarginate. Opercular bones finely striate. 

 Body absolutely naked. The lateral line is straight, but in front of the eye ascends in a 

 gentle curve to the tip of the crest and the base of the first dorsal ray. Yeut at the be. 

 ginning of the liist eighth of the total length of the body; the anal fin, ])laccd behind it, 

 is rounded, and the length of its base twice as great as its height, the height being not 

 more than half the vertical diameter of tlie orbit. The caudal is small, its length being 

 one-third of the height of the body, it being considerably largtn- iu proportion than in L. 

 CejicdiaiiHS. Dorsal confluent with the caudal (not confluent in L. Ccixilltinus); its height 

 iu the middle is equal to one-fourth of the height of the body, but it decreases in height 

 conmderably posteriorly and anteriorly, so thtit over the eye the rays are scarcely percepti- 



