EMMACH^RE 27 



soft dorsal. Caudal broad, not forked, apparently subtruncate ; hypurals 

 broad, without open median space behind. Ventrals I, 5, inserted 

 just before pectorals, the fin well developed. Pectoral rays about 16, the 

 fin broad and rounded, a little more than half head, unsymmetrical, the 

 upper rays longest. 



A second specimen (No. 311) shows the side of a large fish, the 

 part preserved 17 inches long, head crushed. Vertebrae about 24, strong, 

 constricted and grooved. Anterior neurals very strong. Dorsal deeply 

 notched, apparently X, I, 15, the spines very strong, the longest 2% in 

 depth ; a strong imprint marks the second spine, much stouter, though 

 shorter, than third, with long, stout, dagger-shaped interneurals dilated 

 at base ; soft rays lower, but high. Second dorsal spine twice height of 

 last. Anal probably about III, 10, the spines broken. Soft dorsal inter- 

 neurals mostly double. Body formed like a large bass. Depth a little 

 more than length of spinous dorsal. Soft dorsal and anal with the base 

 nearly horizontal, not set obliquely as in BANJOS and HAPALOGENYS. 



This fish must belong to the SERRANID^:, though having stronger 

 dorsal spines than any living species. It may be nearest STEREOLEPIS, the 

 giant bass or Jewfish of Japan and California, but the spines are stronger 

 and the anal fin longer than in that genus, the ventrals farther forward. 



Family SPARID^E. 

 Rhythmias Jordan and Gilbert, new genus. 



(Type: RHYTHMIAS STARRII Jordan and Gilbert.) 

 A genus of SPARID.E, having the broad-elliptical form of the living 

 genus LAGODON. Head rather large, obtuse, the upper profile evenly curved, 

 its length nearly 3 in body ; depth about 2y 2 . Mouth and teeth unknown ; 

 bones of head apparently without spines or serrations. Vertebrae about 25, 

 small, longer than broad, the spines even ; interneurals short and slender, 

 dilated at base, one or sometimes two between each pair of neurals ; second 

 interhaemal somewhat enlarged. 



Dorsal fin low, continuous, scarcely notched, the rays about XIII, 

 12 or 13; no antrorse spine before first spine; middle spines highest; anal 

 rays about III, 8, the second spine strong and curved, higher than third 

 or than the soft rays ; pectorals narrow ; ventrals thoracic, inserted just 

 behind pectorals. Caudal I, 5, forked, the lobes very long. Scales 

 unknown. 



This genus is no doubt an ally of SPARUS, but its exact position can- 

 not be determined until the teeth can be examined. The caudal fin is larger 

 than in any living sparoid fish. (pvdfrn, symmetry). 



