xo. 1875. THE JAPANESE SPARID^— JORDAN AND THOMPSON. 533 



Dorsal spines strong, not flexible, spinulose on alternate sides but 

 only at base; length gradually increasing to last, which is twice the 

 second and contained 1§ in head. First dorsal ray 1^ times as long 

 as tenth spine and equal to head; other rays abruptly shortening 

 from third, leaving fin acutely angular, its point reaching to base of 

 caudal in well-developed specimens, but always to last scales in 

 adults. Anal spines similar to dorsal, third twice the first, and half 

 length of head. Soft anal similar to soft dorsal but not as long, its 

 first rays IJ in head. Both dorsal and anal rays spinulose on both 

 sides. Pectorals If in head, spinulose on outer base. Ventrals 

 reaching to first or second ray of anal, length equal to head plus 

 one-third eye, their spines 1^ in head; spines and rays spinulose 

 below. Caudal truncate. 



Scales hard, finely toothed, present everywhere save on fins and 

 lips. A row of modified scales present on upper edge of premaxillary 

 and on anterior bordering membrane of eye. Scales of snout and 

 lower jaw much modified, thick, rough, and hard. Bases of scales 

 truncate. 



Color in alcohol uniform; evidently red above and silvery below. 

 Membranes of dorsal and ventral fhis black, others colorless. Peri- 

 toneum silvery. 



This species is moderately common on the coasts of southern 

 Japan. We have it from Bingo, Misaki, and Tokyo. 



Priacanthus supraarmatus of Hilgendorf is said to have "D. A. und 

 V. schwarz," but differs in no other regard. 



From Giinther's Priacanthus hooj^s (=P. macropus Quoy and 

 Gaimard), P. japonicus differs in a larger eye and greater depth, 

 judging by the description; and according to Sauvage, also in the 

 form of the scale, which is truncate across the basal end in P. japoni- 

 cus, while it is three-pointed in P. hoops. From P. alticlarens, our 

 fish differs in the much less prominent opercular spine, greater 

 depth and larger eye, judging from the figure by Sauvage of that 

 species.* It seems entirely probable that P. japonicus has not yet 

 been observed south of the Chinese Seas, nor in the Atlantic Ocean, 

 although Boulenger has identified it with Priacanthus hoops (Forster) 

 of the South Atlantic, and P. alticlarens (Valenciennes) from Bourbon, 

 near Madagascar. We have no material for comparison. 



4. Genus PSEUDOPRIACANTHUS Bleeker. 



Psetulopriacanthus Bleeker, Versl. kon. Akad. Wet. Amst., (2), vol. 3, 1869, 

 p. 241 (niphonius) . 



Type. — Priacanthus niphonius Cuvier and Valenciennes. 

 Scales large, very rough, 35 to 50 in the lateral line; body broad, 

 ovate, not twice as long as deep; preopercle with 2 small spines at 



I Poiss. Madag., p. 127, pi. 16, fig. 3. 



