450 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.37. 



This species is here described from a specimen 6 inches long from 

 Keerun, Formosa. We have no specimens from Japan, where the 

 species is apparently rare. It may be known from other spotted 

 species by the long pectorals. It is widely diffused in the South 

 Seas and East Indies. 



(fisyai-, large, ^(sl'p, hand.) 



14. EPINEPHELUS AKAARA (Temminck and Schlegel). 

 AKAARA (red bass); ADSUKIHATA (red-pea-bass).<i 



Serranus akaara Temminck and Schlegel, Faun. Japon., Pise, 1842, p. 9, pi. 

 3, fig. 1 (Nagasaki). — Richardson, Ichth. China, 1846, p. 231. — Gxjnther, 

 Cat. Fishes, vol. 1, 1859, p. 140 (Japan, India &).— Namiye, Class. Cat., 

 1881, p. 93 (Tokyo).— IsHiKAWA, Prel. Cat., 1897, p. 56 (Tokyo). 



Epinephclus akaara Jordan and Snyder, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 23, 1901, 

 p. 354 (Tokyo).— BouLENCxER, Cat. Fishes, vol. 1, 1895, p. 216 (Japan, China,? 

 India). 



Serranus shihpan Richardson, Ichth. China, 1846, p. 231 (Hongkong). 



Serranus variegatus Richardson, Ichth. China, 1846, p. 231 (Hongkong). 



Serranus awoara Steindachner and Doderlein, Beitr. Japan, vol. 1, 1883, 

 p. 23 (Tokyo; China Sea). (Not Serranus aivoara Temminck and Schlegel.) 



(Coasts of China and Japan, common north to Tokyo.) 

 Head 2.6; depth 3 to 3.15; eye 5.2 in head, 2.5 in maxillary; dorsal 

 XI, 15 or 16; anal III, 8; scales 16-103-40; nose 3.7; maxillary ex- 

 tending fully to back of orbit or a little beyond, 2.1 in head, 1.3 

 in pectoral; interorbital space slightly convex, 1.3 in eye. Dorsal 

 outline more arched than ventral, the highest point under the sec- 

 ond or third dorsal spine; profile even, slightly convex, tapering 

 gradually to a sharp muzzle; lower jaw projecting less than width 

 of lip. Teeth in sides of lower jaw in 2 rows; canines moderate; 

 posterior nostril slightly the larger; preopercular angle very little 

 salient, the angle with conspicuously enlarged points; opercular 

 spines nearly equidistant, the lower spine slightly nearer middle 

 than the upper; flap bluntly pointed; gill-rakers 12 or 13 + 4 or 5 

 rudiments. Top of head, cheeks, opercles, and suborbitals covered 

 with small scales; maxillary and premaxillary smooth; lower jaw 

 with, fine embedded scales. Dorsal beginning over origin of pec- 

 toral; longest dorsal spine 2.75 in head; height of longest soft ray 

 1.5 in length of fin's base; caudal rounded, with slightly squarish 

 corners in a few specimens; pectoral 1.5 in head; ventral 2. 



Color in spirits light brownish, both head and body of typical 

 specimens covered thickly with roundish pale spots (bright scarlet 

 in life) a little larger than the pupil; these spots as a rule extend 

 on dorsal and anal; caudal and pectoral more faintly spotted; a 

 large dark blotch, larger than eye, on the back, under last rays of 



aAdsuki, a small red pea, from the scarlet spots. Hata and ara are general names 

 for fishes of this group. 



^ Locality questioned by Boulenger. 



