JORDAN AND JORDAN: FISHES OF HAWAII. 45 



Epigonvs; the mouth larger and the fins higher; teeth small, subequal; pre- 

 orbital narrow; maxillary narrow, naked, not slipping under preorbital; pores of 

 lateral line simple; a weak spine on opercle, head otherwise unarmed; dorsal iins 

 well separated, the first of seven slender spines, the second short, rather high, 

 nearly opposite anal; anal with two feeble spines; caudal deeply forked; ven- 

 trals below pectorals; both fins rather long; ventral raj^s I, 5. Scales moderate, 

 caducous. 



This genus differs from Hynnodus in the deeper body, smaller scales, and 

 higher fins. Both genera are plainly allied to Epigonus Rafinesque of the Mediter- 

 ranean, and should constitute a subfamily, Epigoninw, within the Apogonidce. 



272. Scepterias fragilis sp. nov. Jordan and Jordan. (PI. II, fig. 2.) 



TjT)e No. 3900 Carnegie INIuseum. Honolulu. Coll. D. S. Jordan. 



Head 3.33 in length; depth 4.75; eye 2.5 in head; snout 5.33; maxillary 2; 

 dorsal rays VII, 1, 10; anal rays II, 9; scales 3-54-10. 



Body elongate, the outlines relatively straight and parallel; head rather 

 broad above, the profile even; mouth rather large, terminal, oblique; jaws 

 equal; maxillary narrow, naked, reaching nearly to middle of pupil, the tip not 

 slipping under the narrow preorbital; a row of small subequal teeth in each jaw, 

 a patch on vomer, no teeth on palatines; preopercle entire, the rounded angle 

 somewhat produced; cheeks scaly; opercle scaly, ending in a short weak spin( ; 

 gill-rakers .t* + 14, rather long and very slender, about half diameter of eye ; pseudo- 

 branchiiTB large. Scales moderate, thin, readily falling; lateral line well developed, 

 with large pores, concurrent with back, extending on caudal fin. Dorsal spines 

 slender, the third rather the longest, a httle more than half the head, first spine 

 moderate, one-third length of the longest. Interspace between dorsals about one- 

 third head; second dorsal higher than long, its first ray two-thirds head; caudal 

 deeply forked, its lobes equal, pointed, two-thirds head: anal high, similar to soft 

 dorsal, but inserted a little farther back; pectoral pointed, reaching front of soft 

 dorsal, 1.33 in head; ventrals inserted just below pectorals, 2 in head. Substance 

 soft and fragile. 



Color plain dusky, paler below, without markings; scales with fine punctula- 

 tions, inside of gill-cavity black. Length of type 4.6 inches. 



Four specimens were found in the Honolulu market, apparently spewings of 

 some large fish, perhaps Epinephelus or Etelis. 



*The letter .r indicates that the numlier is uncertain ami not easily counted, as they dwindle in- 

 to rudiments above. 



