844 I'RorEEDIXGS OF rilE XATIOXAL MUSEUM. vc.r. xxx. 



men of JEbisus aagamius. We find it to be an ErUepix^ und \ve c:ui not 

 separate it from Ertlt'pix zonlfcv. 



We have now before u.s a large example in alcohol of the Al)ura- 

 bodzu, sent to us. together with measurements and photogi'aphs, by Mr. 

 T. Matano. president-oencn-al of the Imperial Museum of Japtui. P^rom 

 this specimen we are enabled to give a more <'xact description of the 

 species, and to correct some errors in the account of Khi^nx x(i(j(imliis. 

 Our specimen having been evisceratinl, the characters of the tongue, 

 gill-arches, and pyloric cseca can not be given. The anal tin is appar- 

 ently without spines, but three very small ones appear on dissection 

 in the thick oily skin. The top of the head is covered with tine, 

 embedded scales. Our specimen ditiers from the account of the ('ali- 

 fornian specimen called Erllepis zonlfff in the color, which no doubt 

 changes with age, and in the mun])er of dorsal spines. In our speci- 

 men the two dorsal tins are separated, and the tin-rays are D. XII-1(>. 

 In Lockington's example we counted D. XIV-I, 15. This difference 

 in the number of spines may be fallacious, as one or two may be con- 

 cealed in the thiidv skin of our adult specimen. 



In any event it is certain that Ehisiis is a synonym of Er!lepi'<. The 

 Japanese species is ])rol»ably the original Erileph zon'ifcr. If it should 

 prov(> distinct it would stand as Ei'Htpix sa(/aiiilnx. 



DESCRIPTION OF EKI I.KIMS ZONIEEU FROM TOKYO. 



Head, 3i in length; depth, SJ; depth of caudal peduncle, 11^; eye, 

 6f in head; snout, 3; width of interorbital space, iif; length maxil- 

 lary, 21; D. Xll-lfi; A. III-12; scales in lateral series, 122. 



The body is notably short and stout, the skin thick and saturated 

 with oil, this imparting a characteristic plumpness which has sug- 

 gested the Japanese names Aburabodzu, meaning "fat priest," and 

 Aburainagi, or "fat bass."' The head is large; anterior profile con- 

 vex; interorbital space broad and moderately convex; snout short; 

 lower jaw projecting slightly; maxillary without supplemental l)one, 

 extending posteriorly to a point below middle of orbit; width of narrow- 

 est part of preorbital equal to vertical diameter of ej^e; nostrils, two 

 on each side; anterior nostril circular, with an elevated rim, the pos- 

 terior part of which rises in an angular prominence; posterior nostril 

 oblong; branchiostegals 7, their membranes scaly; teeth small, curved, 

 in broad bands on jaws and on anterior ends of palatines and vomer; 

 cheek with a long strong suborbital stay hidden under the thick skin; 

 pseudobranchia? present; gill-membranes rather narrowly united to 

 the isthmus; head without si)ines or serrations, completely scaled 

 except on lips; scales small, ctenoid, well embedded; those on upper 

 anterior part of head, snout, and chin minute; raj^s and spines of fins 

 generally with scales; posterior dorsal spiiu's smooth; interradial 

 membranes scaly, especially on the caudal; lateral line complete to 



