NO. 1787. SCIMNOID FISHES OF JAPAN— JORDAN AND THOMPSON. 253 



in length to base of caudal, 4§ in total; interorbital space 4f in head; 

 longitudinal diameter of eye 51 ; snout more than 3| ; dorsal rays X — I, 

 28 (24 to 27, Day) ; anal II, 7; scales in lateral line to base of caudal 

 56 (60, Day), in longitudinal series above 90, belov/ 74, between dorsal 

 and lateral line 10, between lateral line and ventrals 18. Gill rakers 

 not described. 



Body elongate; head compressed, conical, blunt. Dorsal profile 

 of head and occiput ascending but moderateh* and evenly to insertion 

 of dorsal, line of back descending still more gradually to caudal 

 peduncle, the least height of which is contained 2f in body depth. 

 Greatest depth of head equal to its length without snout. Cleft of 

 mouth moderately long, somewhat oblique, maxillary reaching a 

 little behind center of eye, posterior end rounded. Lower jaw little 

 shorter than upper. Premaxiharies with a loosely set row of canine 

 teeth, the anterior 4 or 5 on each side prominent for their size, the 

 remainder a narrow band of close set, minute, bristle-like teeth. In 

 lower jaw only two rows, the inner large and set farther apart, becom- 

 ing gradually longer and stronger posteriorly but less so than anterior 

 canines in upper jaw. Posterior edge of preopercle nearly vertical, 

 set with not very numerous, delicate spinules, which are slightly larger 

 toward the angle, three noticeabl}" larger flat teeth at the angle. Two 

 flat points on posterior end of operclc. 



First dorsal spine short, buried beneath skin at foot of second, whose 

 length is contained 2| times in head. Fourth and highest nearly equal 

 to half head. Next to last slightly shorter than last, which is equal 

 in length to eye diameter. First soft dorsal ray somewhat shorter 

 than second spine, those following increasing but slightly in height 

 to sixth; from sixth to fifteenth equal; from fifteenth a gradual short- 

 ening, becoming rapid in last four rays. Second anal spine straight, 

 exceeding middle dorsal spines only slightly in strength, its length 1^ 

 times eye diameter, about If in first soft anal ray whose height is 

 nearly half that of head. Length of anal base contained 4^ times in 

 that of soft dorsal. Ventrals equal to pectorals in length, both 

 pointed, and contained 1| times in length of head, the former not 

 extending quite halfway to insertion of anal. Caudal irregularly 

 rhomboidal. 



Body scaled everywhere save on lips, upper jaw, and around 

 point of lower jaw; on bases of soft dorsal and anal a low sheath of 

 scales. 



Pores present on lower surface of mandible, groove-like, two oppo- 

 site at symphysis. 



Color silver gray, below somewhat lighter. On opercle a very 

 large indefinite dark gray spot; on posterior base of pectoral axil 

 extending back and down, a sharply defined, intensely colored blotch 

 of soiled blue violet. 



