NO. 1641. FISHES FROM RIV KJU ISLANDS— JORDAN AND STARKS. 499 



we obtained a single specimen from Wakanoura. The figure of 

 " MelanycJithys^' Schlegel, shows this second species, but the opercles 

 are represented in the figure as entirely scaly, a condition which 

 obtains in Girella mezina but in neither of the other Japanese species. 

 In both these species, Girella punctata and Girella leonina, there are 

 scales along the upper part only of the opercle. 



Of the two names given by Richardson, leoninus and 'melanichthys, 

 the latter can be certainly identified, as it rests on the illustration by 

 Schlegel. 



Crenidens leoninus occurs on a preceding page, and has therefore 

 page priority. It is based on a figure of Reeves. The scanty des- 

 cription gives the number of dorsal species as 14, and the coloration 

 plain dark green and reddish with no mention of spots. 



The name leoninus, therefore, without much doubt belongs to the 

 species called Melanychtliys by Schlegel. 



Family GERRID.E. 



GERREOMORPHA JAPONICA (Bleeker). 



Two specimens from Okinawa presented by the Imperial Univer- 

 sity. We have also a specimen similar to these from Wakanoura. 

 This species much resembles the common Japanese Xystserna erythrou- 

 rum (Bloch) ( = Gerres equula Schlegel). It is, however, distinguished 

 by small but constant difi'erences, besides the distinction in the num- 

 ber of dorsal spines on which Macleay founded the genus, Gerre- 

 omorpha japonica have 10 dorsal spines, while in all- the species of 

 Gerres and of Xystxma there are nine. 



The body in Gerreojnorpha japonica is deeper than in Xystserna 

 erythrourum, the depth 2^ in length to base of caudal. In X. erythrou- 

 rum the depth is 2| in length. The anterior curves of the outline in 

 G. japonica are more convex, and the body more angulated at front 

 of anal. There is a little less distance between the ventral base and 

 the anal spines. In G. japonica the distance from front of ventral 

 base to anal spines is equal to the distance from tip of snout to base 

 of pectoral. In X. erytlirourum the former distance is greater by 

 nearly an eye's diameter. The snout, in G. japonica is a little shorter 

 less than eye, while in X. erythrourum it is slightly greater than eye. 

 The dorsal rays in GerreomorpJia japonica are X, 9; in Xystxma 

 erythrourum, IX, 10. 



The second interhsemal in X. erythrourunfi is long and spear-shaped 

 as in the American Xystserna cinereum. The air bladder is forked 

 behind, a fork on each side of the interhsemal spine. 



Gerreomorplia japonica has been hitherto known from a single 

 specimen obtained by Doctor Bleeker at Nagasaki and from a speci- 

 men from Nagasaki described by Nystrom.*^ 



aSvensk. Vet. Akad. Handl., 1887, p. 12. 



