CRYPTOCENTRUS 243 



on each side in lower jaw, the latter number typical; the scales 

 on posterior part of body much larger than anterior ones; the 

 dorsal fins higher than body in males, lower in females, the 

 third spine longest; the obtusely rounded caudal 3.5 times in 

 length; the rounded pectoral scarcely shorter than head; the 

 very large, broad, posteriorly pointed ventrals reach beyond 

 anus. 



The color in alcohol reddish brown to dull brownish, with 

 five broad, obscure, dark brown crossbands or blotches, the first 

 at occiput, second at middle of spinous dorsal, the third and 

 fourth below soft dorsal, the fifth at base of caudal; the head 

 may have yellow dots on top; the fins all pale brown, the soft 

 dorsal with a series of yellow spots along its base; the margin 

 of anal dusky with a narrow pale or gray submarginal line. 



The above description is compiled, as I have seen no authentic 

 specimens. Fowler and Bean had a specimen, 150 millimeters 

 long, from Cebu. Originally described from Celebes and Am- 

 boina, it is known westward to Java. 



118. CRYPTOCENTRUS VAGUS sp. nov. 



PLATE 19, FIG. 3 



Dorsal VI, 1-10; anal, I, 10; there are about 75 scales in a 

 longitudinal series and 30 scales in a transverse series. 



The body elongate oblong, flattened laterally, the head thicker 

 than body, the anterior dorsal and ventral profiles convex, the 

 depth 5 times, the head 3.14 times in length; the head rather 

 blunt, the lower jaw prominent, the short convex snout with a 

 large central hump; the snout contained 5.6 times in head and 

 1.2 times in eye diameter; the eyes are high up, dorsolateral, 

 4.66 in head, close together, the interorbital 3 times in eye ; the 

 mouth is large but does not open wide, strongly oblique, the 

 maxillary extending beyond eye to lower margin of preopercle ; 

 three rows of teeth above, and two rows in lower jaw, with 

 two pairs of canines back on either side from symphysis and 

 outside the rows of teeth; the body covered with rather easily 

 displaced scales posteriorly, smaller and closely adherent an- 

 teriorly, and disappearing above base of pectoral; no scales in 

 front of first dorsal; the head naked, without papillae or other 

 growths on the smooth cheeks, opercles, and nape; the cheeks 

 broad and evidently moderately full in life, the opercles narrow ; 

 the first dorsal very high, the second and third spines exceed- 

 ingly elongate with a fine, silklike tip, the second spine twice in 

 head and trunk together and reaching almost to base of caudal 



