560 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



VOL. 41. 



Dorsal spines weak, flexible; second fiiamentous, 1-| in head in 

 best preserved specimen; third about 2 in head; last spine a trifle 

 longer than penultimate, 3^ in head. Succeeding dorsal rays some- 

 what longer than last spine. Second and third anal spines equal in 

 strength, third a little longer, 3 in head. Anal rays subequal, 2| in 

 head. Pectoral reaching anus, 1^ in head, Ventrals reaching first 

 anal spine, somewhat shorter than pectorals. 



Scales strongly ctenoid. Temporal band in a double row. Lateral 

 line little arched, without strong bend at root of caudal. 



Body with small irregidar blotches on sides, arranged in very 

 indistinct transverse stripes; a spot two-thirds the size of the eye, 

 below seventh scale of lateral line. Dorsum of head dark, with an 

 indistinct band between the eyes. Cheeks with small sinuate streaks 

 of dark. Premaxillaries tipped with dark. Dorsal fin with three 



Fig. 4.— Letheinus nematacanthus. 



rows of spots on spines, two on soft fins; caudal with five or six 

 transverse bands of these spots, anal with one or two; ventrals with 

 four or five; pectorals colorless. Color patterns badly preserved. 



In life, olive green, with irregular dark bands and dull yellow spots. 

 Cheeks vermiculate with pearly blue, a characteristic mark; angle of 

 mouth red; fins barred with dull orange and yellowish. 



This species is rather common in southern Japan. It was seen by 

 us at Tokyo and at Wakanoura. 



{u^pia, thread; aKavOa, spine.) 



18. LETHRINUS HiEMATOPTERUS Temminck and Schlegel. 

 ITOFUEFTTKIDAI (thread flute-mouth porgy). 



Lethrinus hxmatopterus Temminck and Schlegel, Fauna Japonica, 1844, p. 74, 

 pi. 38 (southwest coast of Japan). — Richardson, Voyage Sulphur, 1846, p. 144, 

 pi. 64, figs. 1-3 (China). — Bleeker, Nieuwe Nalez. Verh. Bat. Gen., vol. 26, 



