11. SEMICOSSYPHTJS. 99 



equal to the length of the head, and is contained three times and two- 

 fifths in the total length. Head nearly as high as long, with a very 

 high cheek and obtuse snout. There are four strong canine teeth in 

 each of the jaws, the outer ones of the mandible being turned out- 

 wards ; an obtuse osseous ridge round the edge of the jaws, with 

 scarcely any distinct teeth ; posterior canine tooth strong. Prse- 

 orbital elevated, much higher than the orbit ; cheek with seven series 

 of small scales, the limbs of the prseoperculum being naked ; scales 

 of the operctilum nearly as large as those of the body, arranged in 

 three series. Praeoperculum not serrated. Dorsal spines stout, the 

 last being the longest, one-third of the length of the head ; the soft 

 dorsal and anal are not scaly at the base and extend backwards to 

 the loot of the caudal. Caudal rounded. The third anal spine is 

 the longest, stronger but rather shorter than the last dorsal spine. 

 The first ventral ray produced. The colour, in a dried state, is 

 uniform yellowish, perhaps red during life ; a j^eUow longitudinal 

 band runs along the basal half of the anal fin, and another appears to 

 occupy the middle of the dorsal. 



11. SEMICOSSYPHTJS. 



Cossyphus, sp., Cuv. 8f Val. 



Semicossyphus, Gi'mth. Ann. ^ Mag. Nat. Hist. 1861, vol.rai. p. 384; 

 Bleek. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1861, p. 415. 



Body compressed, oblong, with rather smaU scales ; head longer 

 than high. Scales on the cheeks and opercles ; base of the vertical 

 fins and limbs of the praeoperculum not scaly. Lateral line not 

 interrupted. Four canine teeth in each jaw anteriorly ; no posterior 

 canine tooth ; an obtuse osseous ridge round the edges of the jaws, 

 without distinct lateral teeth. Formula of the fins : D. |^. A. ^. 



Coasts of Japan and California. 



1. Semicossyphus reticnlatns. 



Cossyphus reticulatus, Cuv. 8f Val. xiii. p. 139 ; Richards. Ichth. Chin. 



S. 255 ; Bhek. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Nederl. vi. Japan, vi. p. 72. 

 rus reticulatus, Schleg. Faun. Japon. Poiss. p. 161. pis. 83, 83 a, 

 &84 



D. f^. A. l^. L. lat. 49-50. 



Snout rather pointed in young age (specimens of twelve inches in 

 length) ; a large adipose himip is developed with age on the ^re- 

 head and on the chin ; head longer than high ; praeoperculum not 

 serrated ; dorsal fin not scaly ; caudal subtruncated, ventral produced. 

 Uniform greyish-violet or greyish-red. 



Sea of Japan. 



2. Semicossyphus pulcher. 



Labrus pulcher, Ayres, Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sc. i. 1854, p. 3. 



"' To' ^- V2- 

 Dr. Ayres describes this species, which appears to be allied to 

 Semicossyphus reticidatiis, as follows : — 



h2 



