PRISTIOPHORUS NUDIPINNIS. 247 



oblique, origins below erect portion of hind border of first dorsal. Subcaudal 

 reduced, narrow, separated from the tip by a notch ; supracaudal wider, widen- 

 ing backward; tip broad. Scales minute, with a strong median keel, irregular, 

 point projecting. 



Olivaceous brown on the back; whitish beneath, on the foramen in front of 

 the skull, in a narrow band near each edge of the rostrum, and in another along 

 each flank. At each side of the white bands on the rostrum the color is darker 

 brown causing the appearance of four longitudinal bands of the dark color. 



The following measurements taken from the specimen described above, 

 No. 1045, M. C. Z., from Yenoura, Japan, compared with those from a much 

 smaller one will indicate the course of changes in the individual at various ages: — 

 Total length 34 inches, snout to barbel 5^, snout to nostrils 8|, snout to eyes 9, 

 snout to mouth 10, snout to first dorsal I62, and length of caudal 5| inches. 

 The distance between nostril and barbel = distance between nostril and second 

 gill opening. 



The total length of No. 1283 is 12 inches; snout to barbel l|, snout to nos- 

 trils 2^ snout to eyes 2\l, snout to mouth Sis, snout to first dorsal 5| ; length of 

 caudal 2i6 inches. The distance between nostril and barbel = § distance between 

 the nostril and the second gill opening. Barbel half way from mouth to end of 

 snout, reaching the angle of the mouth. Color light reddish brown, with light 

 as in the larger examples. 



Among the more noticeable proportional changes occurring during growth 

 would appear to be lengthening the rostrum, shortening the barbel, and increas- 

 ing the distance between nostril and barbel. 



PrISTIOPHORUS NUDIPINNIS. 



Pristiophorus nudipinnis Gunth., 1870, Cat. fishes Brit, mus., 8, p. 432; Castelnau, 1872, Proc. Zool. 

 & acclim. soc. Victoria, 1, p. 220; McCoy, 1881, Zool. Vict., 1, pi. 56, f. 2; Oqilby, 1889, Proc. Lii'i). 

 soc. N. S. W., ser. 2, 4, p. 186. 



Body elongate, subfusiform. Rostral lamina near one fifth of the total 

 length (in a specimen three feet long), teeth very unequal. Barbels less than 

 half way from the angle of the mouth to the end of the snout, their length equal 

 two thirds of their distance from the mouth, reaching the nostril. Teeth small, 

 in thirty-five rows on the upper jaws, thirty-two on the lower; crown broad, 

 with a strong narrow median cusp. Scales minute, crown with three keels 

 (3-7) on the forward half, smooth posteriorly; scales absent from the marginal 

 portions of dorsals and pectorals. Hind margins of fins slightly concave; 



