122 Dircclors Annual Report. 



and the posterior part of body. The caudal fin is narrowly tipped 

 with yellowish white with a black subterminal band as wide as eye; 

 anterior of this is a white band of about equal width; the remainder 

 of the fin is blackish. The pectorals are margined with white, 

 their ground color is dusky with more or le.ss mottling of greenish 

 white. Ventrals are similarly colored, except that the mottlings 

 take more of the form of four or five incomplete cross lines. Pec- 

 torals and anal dusk}-, with mottlings of greenish white. Two 

 specimens, length about 9 inches. Guam, July 12, 1900. The 

 dorsal spines of this fish are very poisonous, and the natives fear 

 them more than scorpions. One of the above specimens was dam- 

 aged by having its head crushed by a native who was intent on 

 killing' the fish. Type No. 256, B. P. B. M. Hab. Marianas. 

 Named for Thersites, "The ugliest of the Greeks." 



Genus PTEROIS Cuvier. 



258. Pterois zehta. Cuv. & Val. 



Head 2.66; depth 2.66; eye 2.66 into head; interorbitals 4.50 

 into head; D. xi i 13; A. iii 6; P. 17; V. i 5; C. 11 14 11. Scales 

 10-59-13. Mandibles 1.16 into head. Maxillary r.50 into head, 

 reaching to a line with anterior margin of pupil. Gill-rakers .short 

 and blunt, about 9 on lower arm — armed with minute teeth. Body 

 oblong, compressed. Teeth villiform in jaw^s and vomer. Inter- 

 orbital space deeply concave, the upper margins each with a fleshy 

 tentacle one-third as long as head, and alternating white and brown 

 in color. There are four fleshy tentacles on the .snout, one just 

 po.sterior of each anterior nostril, and two in the middle near tip of 

 snout. There is also a short flesh}- tentacle on lower anterior cor- 

 ner of preorbitals, and two on each lower po.sterior margin of each 

 preopercle. The upper margin of orbit is armed with one large 

 and three small spines. Preorbital is armed with several spines 

 and ridges, one ridge extending back near the lower margin of in- 

 ferior orbital to the preopercle. Immediately beneath this ridge 

 are .several small spines. Posterior margin of preopercle armed 

 with three spines. About eight spines on top of head ju.st back of 

 interorbital region. Continuing from the anterior end of lateral line 

 is a row of five small spines extending to orbitals. Scales: Lateral 

 line well developed; scales on nape, bod}' and head, except on 

 snout and interorbitals. Branchio.stegals 7. Pseudobranchiae well 

 developed. Fins: Caudal is rounded, 1.15 into head. Pectorals 

 very elongate, reaching tip of caudal. Spinous dorsal long, the 

 longest spine 2 into length. Ventrals slightly longer than head. 

 Soft dorsal and anal reaching beyond the base of caudal, their 

 longest rays about equal, 1.50 into head. Base of anal 3.0S into 

 base of dorsal. Color in spirits; Ground color sepia brown; three 

 single vellowish white lines over back of neck between the orbitals 



