440 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. 37. 



ulation of the preopercle, and in the lesser depth of the notch between 

 the dorsals. The genus Liopropoma Gill (aberrans) differs from 

 Pikea, according to Poey, in having one more dorsal spine, the pre- 

 opercular border smooth, and the opercle ending in a single spine. 

 (Named for Col. Nicholas Pike, United States consul at Mauritius, 

 a naturalist who left many paintings of tropical fishes.) 



c*. Pikea: Last dorsal spine less than half as long as the longest soft rays; border 

 of preopercle almost entire maculata, 8. 



a^. Labracopsis: Last dorsal spine at least half as long as the longest soft rays; border 

 of preopercle finely toothed japonica, 9. 



8. PIKEA MACULATA Steindachner and Ddderlein. 



Pikea maculata Steindachner and DiioERLEiN, Denkschr. Akad. Wien, vol. 47, 



1883, p. 234, pi. 6, fig. 1 (Tokyo). 

 Liopropoma maculatum Boulenger, Cat. Fishes, vol. 1, 1895, p. 156. 



Head 3 in length; depth 4.25; eye 5 in head; dorsal VIII, 12; 

 anal III, 8; scales 6-70-30; nose longer than eye; maxillary reaching 

 beyond center of eye; interorbital space flattish. Body elongate, 

 back little elevated, profile nearly straight, from front of dorsal; 

 muzzle moderately sharp; cleft of mouth high; top of head flattish; 

 lower jaw projecting; villiform teeth in bands, on jaws, and on vomer 

 and palatines; tongue toothless; border of preopercle rounded;" 

 opercle with 3 flat points; gill-rakers not described; head entirely 

 scaled, the scales largely cycloid; lateral line complete. Origin of 

 dorsal slightly behind base of pectoral; longest dorsal spine (third) 

 about 3 in head; longest soft ray 2; caudal weakly emarginate, the 

 lobes rounded; pectoral 1.33 in head; ventrals shorter than pectorals. 

 Color reddish yellow, with roundish brown spots along l)ack and upper 

 part of sides and on basal portion of spinous and soft dorsals and 

 caudal. (Steindachner and Doderlein.) 



We have seen no specimens of this species. The type, 25 cm. in 

 length, was obtained by Doctor Doderlein from Tokyo, doubtless from 

 Sagami Bay. 



(maculatus, spotted.) 



a In the original description of this species Doctor Doderlein states that the border 

 of the preopercle is "nur mit zarten Cilien besetzt," and in the description of Pikea 

 (Labracopsis) japonicus it is said that the bone is "dicht und zart gesahnt." These 

 statements are used by Boulenger (Cat. Fishes, vol. 1) in the key and descriptions 

 of these species. The original figure of Pikea maculata shows a smooth preopercle, that 

 of Pikea lunulata shows one rather coarsely denticulated. The original figure of 

 Labracopsis japonicus shows what might well be called a very finely and regularly 

 denticulated, or even "ciliated" preopercle. Our specimen from Tokyo agrees well 

 with the figure; and as further evidence that there has been confusion in the descrip- 

 tion of this character of the two species, we have the statement (in the definition of 

 the new subgenus Labracopsis) that Labracopsis (japonicus) differs from Pikea (macu- 

 lata and lunulata) "nur durch das Vorkommen zahlreicher, spitzer Zahnchen am 

 Vordeckel." In Pikea aurora, the preopercle is very finely denticulate. 



