PHILIPPINE MACROUROID FISHES—GILBERT AND HUBBS. A475 
cent-shaped naked region, with the convex side just in front of the 
occipital scute. This scute is less modified than in related species; it 
bears five to seven carinae not much stronger than those on the scales 
of the body; behind this scute the scales are rather small; a similar 
scute, even less modified, occurs in some specimens on the mid-dorsal 
line between the main scute and the origin of the first dorsal; a scute 
with a strong median keel is sometimes developed at the anterior end 
of the lateral line. _The squamation of the region between the occi- 
pital and postorbital ridges also differs conspicuously from that of 
the other species: the lower two-thirds of this area is covered by 
two or three subequal rows of scales, bearing as many as 11 divergent 
carinae, while the upper third is covered by scales mostly of greatly 
reduced size. The region below the orbit and the larger part of the 
anterolateral region of the upper surface of the snout are covered 
by prickle-like scales. The under side of the head is wholly naked. 
The first dorsal spine is sharp; the second spine in some speci- 
mens ends in a short, fine filament; its length is variable, about 
equal to the postrostral length of the head. The base of the first 
dorsal is contained 1.3 to 1.7 times in the interdorsal space, and 
1.4 to 1.8 times in the postorbital length of head. The second 
dorsal fin is low anteriorly, its first rays being contained from 4 
to 6 times in the length of the orbit. The origin of the anal fin 
lies below the middle or the anterior half of the interdorsal space. 
The outer ventral ray ends in a filament, which, like that of the 
dorsal spine, is sometimes compressed distally.. The second ventral ray 
reaches almost to the orfgin of the anal fin. The wide variation exist- 
ing in the length of the fin-rays is apparently not sexual, as was 
demonstrated in those species with elevated dorsals (as C’. velifer). 
Table to show variation of fin-rays in male and female specimens. 
Males. Females. 
Seconudorsal spineim head eo. s-)oe n/n ss 2 = cielo sie anne Senin e-em s = 1.5 to 1.85... .-| 1:6 to 2.0 
PRHITGGOTsalerayaIMENeAa C= sae) eae ce oc ee alsineies oo sci sosis eee sees serie Ito a Oeeeeees 1.8 to 2.2. 
EPerOnalgine Th CAC mer sees eee) aisle inate nna niente aaron ae acres aS DD GOl2 aise setae 2.1 to 2.65. 
Mutenventralrayai head as ace eas eee cis ae asiemeiniae a2 a= c= eae ape azar PEARS 6 secon 2.25 to 2.7. 
Speceyacal Weiayancel iy why GENO ae one Sopa B Oe acre One se eee SebRee eS Sansone. 3.45 to 4.0....-- 3.4 to 4.25. 
1Five males and four females were measured, including both sexes from southern 
Luzon and from off Jolo Island. 
The color of (C. argus is more variable than that of any other 
species of the group examined. The ground color varies from light 
yellowish to dark brown. The region between the anus, ventrals, and 
isthmus is blackish. The dark specimens are from China Sea, 
while the lighter ones were dredged in the vicinity of Jolo Island, 
and in Davao Gulf, off the southern coast of Mindanao (other dif- 
ferences are not evident between the northern and the southern 
specimens). The dark markings are very indistinct in certain speci- 
mens, both of the light and dark types, while in others they are very 
