^%T''] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONxVL MUSEUM. 77 



lower than snout or iuterorbital space. The latter narrow, concave, 

 without ridges, the least width one-half the orbit. 



Supraocular ridge short. Nasal, preocular, supraocular, postocular, 

 tympanic, occipital, and uuclial spines present, the "ridges of moderate 

 height, but the spines, especially postocular and tympanic, strong. 

 The preocular ridge but little conspicuous, the spine much smaller than 

 in S. sinensis and zacentrus. Spines on shoulder little developed. Oper- 

 cular spines rather weak. Preo]iercular spines small, the two upper 

 directed backwards, the others downwards and backwards. 



Dorsal fins not deeply notched, the longest spine 3 in head, the twelfth 

 half its length. Soft dorsal not high. Caudal truncate. Second anal 

 spine longer and stronger than third, as long as soft rays, but not 

 reaching their tips when the fin is declined, 2| in head. Pectorals 

 short. If to 2 in head, reaching beyond ventrals, but usually not to vent. 



D. XIII, 13; A. Ill, 7. Pores in lateral line, thirty-one. About 

 sixty vertical series counted above the lateral line. 



Scales rough-ctenoid. Snout naked or nearly so. Scales on maxillary 

 and mandible minute and smooth, little evident. Those on breast 

 rough. Fins invested in a thick membrane covered with tine scales. 



Color: As in ^. zacentrus, but usually with two elongate black streaks 

 below lateral line. A black blotch on middle of ventrals. A bar at 

 base of pectolals and in axil. 



Five specimens, the longest 5i inches long, from Station 2946, in 150 

 fathoms. 



36. Sebastichthys zacentrus sp. nov. 



DiAGrNOSiS: Scales large; cranial ridges moderate, the postocular 

 spine wanting, the preocular strong. Scales strongly ctenoid. Second 

 anal sj^ine very long, reaching tip of soft rays when the fin is reflexed. 

 Peritoneum black, lining of buccal cavity white. Second anal spine 

 enlarged. 



Specific description: Body elongate, depth 3^ in length. Caudal 

 peduncle narrow, of in depth of body. Head 2| in length. Mouth 

 moderate, maxillary reaching vertical from middle of pupil, 2^ in head. 

 Lower jaw slightly the longest, the lip with a small knob. Teeth in 

 very narrow bands. Eye much longer than snout, 3 to 3;^ in head. Iu- 

 terorbital space narrow, somewhat concave, Ig in diameter of orbit. 

 Preorbital extremely narrow, its least width two-sevenths pupil. 



Ridges on head low, but sharp, the spines rather strong. Preocular 

 ridge strong, triangular, ending in a strong outwardly -directed spine. 

 Nasal, preocular, supraocular, tympanic, occipital, and sometimes nuchal 

 spines present. Two spines on shoulder, two on opercle, and the usual 

 five on preopercle, the latter directed backwards. Preorbital lobate, 

 but without spines. 



Gill-rakers long, very slender, one-half diameter of orbit, twenty-six 

 present on anterior limb of outer arch. 



