242 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxiv. 
Skin smooth ; a few small, deeply imbedded prickles on the breast 
and belly. Lines of mucous pores distinct; the lateral line extending 
from a point behind the mouth backward below and close to the eye, 
passing in a broad curve above the pectoral, bending downward and 
running to the middle of base of caudal; a branch passing over nape 
just above gill opening; another leaving the lateral line at a point 
close behind eye, going downward and disappearing on the throat; a 
third having its origin immediatel}^ before the latter, going upward 
and forward, passing downward close behind the nostrils and joining 
the lateral line; no inclosed quadrangular space behind eye; a branch 
crossing the snout above; a line originating near the angle of mouth, 
extending downward along the chin; curving backward along throat 
and bending upward to near base of pectoral; another beginning 
below and a little before the end of the latter, running backward, 
curving upward over anal, and extending to base of caudal. 
Fins high, the dorsal pointed, its posterior edge straight, the longest 
Pig. 4. — Spheroides exascurus. 
rays li in head; anal similar in shape, slightly higher than dorsal. 
Caudal subtruncate, somewhat rounded posteriorly. Pectoral about 
2i in head; of 14 rays. 
Dark gray abo>e, the color ending abruptly at the lateral fold; belly 
white; back blackish, with obscure grayish vermiculations; sides with 
very distinct, gray reticulations around irregular black spots, some of 
which are as large as pupil; sides of head very distinctly marked; a 
large black spot on ])ase of pectoral; no distinct black ])lotch behind 
pectoral or below dorsal; dorsal with dark clouds; caudal with its rays 
distinctly spotted and reticulated like sides of bod}'; gra}' area of sides 
extending below the dark spots. 
Misaki; described from a fine specimen about 200 mm. long. Type 
No. 6524, Leland Stanford Junior University Museum. The species 
is related to S. ahhottl^ but differs from that and all others in its pecul- 
iar markings and especially in the extension of the spots and streaks 
on the caudal fin. 
{iB>aaKeoo^ to adorn; ovpd, tail.) 
