PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 323 
Spinous ridges on the top of the head rather prominent, much as in 
nebulosus, but lower, a little less depressed than in verillaris. The fol- 
lowing pairs are present: Nasal, preocular, supraocular, tympanic, and 
occipital, five in all. The nasal spines are very strong. The preocular 
and supraocular are broad and sharp. The tympanic spines are smaller 
than in related species. The occipital ridges are short and compara- 
tively weak, the point rather depressed. 
Preopercular spines very short, but all distinct, the upper one broad, 
the second longest and most acute. Opercular spines large, the upper 
very long and strong. Bluntish spines on subopercle and interopercle. 
Two suprascapular spines. Interorbital space rather deeply and some- 
what evenly concave, with a rather deep pit anteriorly. 
Gill-rakers about 10+ 20, stout, moderately long, rather longer than in 
nebulosus, somewhat clavate, the longest about equal to the diameter of: 
the pupil. 
Scales moderate, rough, in about 55 transverse rows. Accessory scales 
developed. 
Dorsal spines very high and strong, the fourth spine highest, usually 
more than half the length of the head, the last spines low, so that the 
fin is deeply emarginated. 
The membrane of the spinous dorsal is very deeply incised, more than 
half the anterior edge of each of the middle spines being above the 
membrane; even four-fifths of the length of the highest spine is some- 
times free anteriorly. This is subject to some variations, but in all cases 
the bare portion of the spines is much higher than in other species. 
Soft dorsal high, but lower than spinous dorsal. Caudal truncate. 
Anal fin rather low, the spines short. Second anal spine a little higher 
than the third, not two-thirds the height of the soft rays. 
DLT, 12; A. IF, 7. 
Pectoral fins extremely broad and rounded, as in S. rastrelliger, the 
tips reaching beyond the tips of the ventrals, but not to the vent. The 
base of the fin is greater than the diameter of the eye and about twice 
the length of the occipital ridge. In both sexes the lower rays are 
thickened and fleshy. 
Prevailing color a warm brownish yellow, sometimes quite yellow on 
the sides and below, the back sometimes considerably olive, sometimes 
reddish tinged. Sides of head, front of back, and thoracic region usually 
most distinetly yellow. The coloration mottled and clouded, but with- 
out distinct markings except the small spots with which the anterior 
region is closely covered. They are smallest and most distinct on the 
thoracic and scapular region. Here they are of a clear orange-brown 
color. On the top of the head they become more orange, and on the 
anterior part of the back they become larger and of a bright clear orange. 
Posteriorly they blend with the ground color. Top of head with dusky 
cross-shades. Sclerotic coat of eye spotted above with orange. 
Fins all with the membranes slaty black; the pectorals and dorsal 
