294 PRISTIPOMATID^. 



the eye is one-third of the length of the head, the snout rather 

 shorter. Prseopercnlum with the posterior limb very slightly emar- 

 ginate. The fourth spine of the dorsal longest, 1^ in the height of 

 the body ; the second of the anal one-sixth of the total length. 

 Uniform ; a large brown blotch on the anterior part of the dorsal 

 tin. (Bl.) 



Sea of Bata\aa. 



18. Pristipoma terribile. (Plate XIV.) 



D. 12 I ^. A. J. L. lat. 46. L. transv. 8/19. 



The height of the body is thi'ee times in the total length, the 

 length of the head 3| ; the snout is rather pointed and longer than 

 the diameter of the eye, which is 8|-in the length of the head. The 

 upper jaw is rather longer than the lower ; the maxillary extends 

 nearly to the vertical from the anterior margin of the orbit. The 

 posterior limb of the pra?operculum is emarginate and serrated, and 

 the angle produced backwards, rounded, and armed Avith stronger 

 spinous teeth. Dorsal fin deeply notched ; all the spines very strong 

 and long : the fourth of the dorsal is the longest, and more than one- 

 half of the length of the head. CaudaHs trunc*ated ; the second anal 

 spine exceedingly long, five-sixths of the length of the head ; the 

 length of the pectoral is one-fifth of the total. Coloration uniform ; 

 the first dorsal with a black edge. 



a. Sine patria. 



Description of the specimen. — This species is intermediate between 

 P. hasta and P. crocro. It resembles Therapon argenteus in general 

 habit and in the strength of its spines, which are relatively stronger 

 than in any other species of Pristipoma. The body is rather com- 

 pressed and elevated, its greatest depth, below the fourth dorsal spine, 

 being one-third of the total length. The upper profile descends 

 abruptly from its highest point to the nape, where it is slightly 

 concave ; from thence to the snout it is straight. The upper surface 

 is moderately broad, the distance between the eyes being less than 

 the width of the orbit. The snout is rather pointed, with the upper 

 jaw slightly overlapping the lower. The teeth form viUiform bands 

 without canines or other larger teeth. On the chin there is the usual 

 central groove and some indistinct lateral pores. The praioperculum 

 approaches in form that of P. hasta, being conspicuously emarginate, 

 with the angle produced backwards, and armed with much stronger 

 spinous teeth than those of the posterior limb. The scales extend to 

 the margin of the bone, and are smaller than those of the operculum. 

 The operculum has a notch behind, between two feeble and obtuse 

 points. The suprascajnda is serrated. 



The origin of the dorsal fin falls in front of the vertical from the 

 base of the pectoral, and its end before that of tlie anal ; the base of the 

 spinous portion is more than twice as long as tluit of the soft. The 

 sjinee arc exceedingly strong, on one side broadi'r than on the other: 



