DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW GENERA OF 



FISHES (EREUNIAS AND DRACISCUS) 



FROM JAPAN. 



BY DAVID STARR JORDAN AND JOHN OTTERBEIN SNYDER. 



Plates XVIII and XIX. 

 Ereunias (cottid^), gen. nov. 



Body moderately elongate, tapering into a long and slender tail, the nuchal 

 region elevated. Head large, not compressed or depressed. Eye very 

 large. Preorbital broad. Mouth horizontal, lower jaw included, maxillary 

 extending a little beyond anterior margin of pupil. Teeth in villiform bands 

 on jaws, vomer, and palatines. Gill-openings wide, the gill-membranes 

 broadly united, free from the isthmus. Gill-rakers short, club-shaped; a 

 small oval slit behind last gill-arch. Suborbital stay distinct, covered by the 

 rough skin. Nasal spines present; a stout spine before eye; a much larger 

 one on upper rim of orbit; a divided spine at nape; two small ones on lower 

 margin of preorbital; a large hooked spine at angle of preopercle; two 

 smaller, sharp spines below the latter; a blunt spine on upper edge of oper- 

 cle. Skin close set with velvety prickles. Lateral line distinct, armed with 

 spines which are strong and curved anteriorly. Sides with two series of 

 stout, curved spines, besides three series of smaller ones. Dorsal fins sepa- 

 rate, of moderate height, with ten slender spines; rays, i, 12. Anal low, of 

 twelve rays, opposite soft dorsal. Caudal small, truncate. Pectoral short, 

 of eleven united rays, below which are four simple, free ones, similar to those 

 of Prionotus and Trigla. Ventrals entirely wanting. 



The relations of the genus are at once with Cottid^ and 

 Triglid^. We place it provisionally as a subfamily, Ere- 

 uniinae, near Triglops in the Cottidse. It is not unlikely 

 that the absence of ventrals, and the singular form of the 

 pectoral will demand for it a distinct family. 



One species known (Ereunias grallator), from the shores 



of Japan. 



[377] -■^p"i 22, 1901. 



/co^ 





