HIPPOCEPHALUS JAPONICUS. I49 



Ayonus japonicus Bloch & Schueider, Systema Ichthyologia, 105, 1801 

 (after Pallas). 



Hippocephalus japonicus Jordan & Gilbert, Synopsis of the Fishes of North 

 America, 723, 1883 (after Cuv. & Val.). 



Ayonus stegophthahmis Tilesius, "Mem. Soc. Nat. Moscow, ii, 219, 1809," 

 and "Mem. Acad. Peters., iv, 427, plate 12, 1811;" Giinther, Cata- 

 logue of Fishes, ii, 214, 1860 (copied). 



Asjndophorus lisiza Lacepede, "Hist. Nat. des Poissous, iii, 1802.'" 



Aspidophorus superciliosus Cuv. & Val., iv, 215, 1829. 



Hippocephalus superciliosus Swaiuson, Nat. Hist. Fishes, etc., 272, 1839. 



ETYMo-LOGY—Japom'cKs; supposed by Steller to be 

 more common in Japan than where the type was found 

 (Kurile Islands). 



DiAGNOSLS — Body moderately slender, compressed, its 

 width between the dorsals nearly two in the depth at the 

 same place ; two rows of strong and two rows of weaker 

 spines along each side of body, and a median lateral row 

 of spineless plates. Head, 4|.* Preopercular spine large, 

 suborbital spine tubercular, supraocular ridge expanded 

 into a triangular shelf projecting laterally far beyond eye 

 and ending bluntly; no occipital spines. Back elevated 

 behind nape. First dorsal short, beginning at the nape. 

 Plates in the dorsal series, 43-45 ; between the dorsals 

 (from last spine to first ray), 14 pairs (9 pairs between 

 end of membrane of first dorsal and first ray of second 

 dorsal). Nasal spines sharp, far apart, at tip of snout. 

 No median rostral plate. Gill-membranes united, free 

 from isthmus. Teeth in broad bands on the jaws and 

 on vomer; none on palatines. The vent at a point be- 

 tween y. and % of the distance from ventrals to anal. 



Color in spirits, ''old ivory," with brown patches on 

 the sides, one under first dorsal, one between dorsals, one 

 under second dorsal, two or three on peduncle. B. 6; 

 D. VI-7; A. 8; P. 12; V. 3 (1-2); C. 2-13-2. 



^ The standard of length, when not otherwise stated, is the distance 

 from the tip of the snout to the base of the caudal fin. 



