On the Variations of Stereolepis gigas. 489 



snout and the fore limb is contained twice and a lialf in the 

 distance between axilla and groin. Snout very short, 

 obtuse. Lower eyelid scaly. Nostril pierced between two 

 nasals ; no supranasal ; frouto-nasal broader than long, 

 broadly in contact with the rostral and with the frontal ; 

 pitefrontals minute j frontal not much larger than fronto- 

 parietals, in contact with the first and second supraoculars ; 

 four supraoculars; five supraciliaries ; frontoparietals dis- 

 tinct, larger than the interparietal ; parietals forming a suture 

 behind the interparietal; a pair of nuchals; fifth upper 

 labial below the centre of the eye. Ear-opening minute. 

 22 smooth scales round the middle of the body. Median 

 prseanals scarcely enlarged. The length of the hind limb 

 equals the distance between the anterior border of the eye and 

 the fore limb ; third and fourth toes equal. Tail long and 

 thick. Upper surface of head and back blackish brown, 

 with small round white spots ; sides of body, belly, hind 

 limbs, and base of tail uniform orange ; a black streak on the 

 temple and along the side of the neck ; throat black ; greater 

 part of tail brown above and white beneath, spotted with 

 black. 



miu. 



Total length 166 



Head 10 



Width of head 7 



Body 51 



Fore limb 10 



Hind limb 15 



Tail (reproduced) 105 



A single specimen from Mount Ruwenzori, altitude 

 7000 feet. Presented by the Subscribers t® the Ruwenzori 

 Expedition Fund. 



LVI. — On the Variations of Stereolepis gigas, a great Sea- 

 Perch from California and Japan. By G. A. Boulenger, 

 F.R.S. 



When preparing a revision of the Sea-Perches for the 

 ' British Museum Catalogue of Fishes,' vol. i., published in 

 1895, a comparison of the descriptions and figures given of 

 Stereolepis gigas, Ayres, from California, and Megaperca 

 isckinaga, Hilgendorf, from Japan, failed to bring out any 

 tangible difference between the two, which I accordingly 

 proposed to unite under the former name. A comparison of 

 Ann. cfc Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 7. Vol. xix. 34 



