490 THK FUR SEALS OF TJIE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 



Scales on colored side strongly ctenoid except in a strii) along middle of sides 

 anteriorly. Elsewhere each scale is provided with two to four long spines. On blind 

 side they are smooth except in nape and caudal ijeduncle. Cheeks, opercles, and 

 interorbital si)ace covered with larger rougher scales than those on sides. Mandible 

 and snout naked. A single series surrounds each eye anteriorly, a series on maxil- 

 lary of colored side. Blind side of head with maxillary naked, cheeks covered with 

 minute smooth thin scales, the opercles with a few scattered spinous scales, the preo- 

 percle naked. 



Color nearly uniform brownish, without distinctive markings on body or fins. 



The species is named for Mr. Gerald E. H. Barrett- Uamilton, of the British Eur- 

 Seal Commission. 



VERASPER Jordan and Gilbert, now gonus. 



This genus is most nearly allied to Xystrurys and Hijyjwglossina, having few short 

 gill rakers, like the former, and strongly ctenoid scales, like the latter. It differs 

 strongly from all its congeners in having premaxillary teeth in two series. Tlie single 

 type is dextral. The teeth are uniformly small, without canines. Tlie dorsal originates 

 above the front of pupil. The lateral line is strongly ar(;hed above the root of the 

 pectoral, without recurrent dorsal branch. Tlie scales are extremely sjjiiious. The 

 gill rakers are short, thick, and triangular, few in number. None of the lin rays are 

 notably produced or exserted. 



Besides the typical si)ecies, Verasjur nioscri, a second species, Veras2}('r raricgattts 

 (Schlegel), is a common food-fish in the waters of the more southern islands of Japan. 



220. Verasper nioseri, Jordan and (Jilbcrt, now specios. (Plato LXXXV.) 



One male specimen, 28 cm. long, from Shaua Bay, Iturup Island, is the type of 

 the species; other specimens similar to this were taken in the harbor of Hakodate. 



Dorsal, .S2; anal, 58; pectoral, 12; jmres in lateral line, 84. Head 3^ in length to 

 base of caudal; depth 2; depth of caudal peduncle 4 in greatest depth of body; 

 length of caudal peduncle, jueasured axially, I'g in its dei)th. Head much depressed, 

 with rather wide flat interorbital space, resembling in appearance Pscttichihys mdano- 

 stictus; its thickness at interorbital space equaling distance between pupils of upper 

 and lower eyes. 



Mouth small, very oblique, the gape strongly arched, the broad maxillary reach- 

 ing a vertical behind middle of pujjil, 2^ in head. Mandible narrowing toward tip, 

 with very rudimentary symphysial knob. Teeth in the upper jaw in two distinct 

 series througliout, those of the outer series increasing slightly in size toward I'ront of 

 Jaw, but none of them caiiine-like. Mandibular teeth in one row, except at symphysis, 

 where a few teeth form a short outer series. Nasal openings of eyed side approximated 

 in front of middle of interorbital space. The anterior has a short tube, the posterior 

 with a raised rim. Eyes small, their anterior margins op])osite, the diameter of lower 

 eye equaling distance from tip of snout to x)osterior nostril, (>.', in head. Interorbital 

 space rather broad and fiat, not ridge-like, its total width erpialing half the diameter 

 of orbit. Gill rakers short, broad, triangular, minutely toothed on inner margin, 

 one-third diameter of eye; 7 present on horizontal limb of outer arch. 



Lateral line with a short, high anterior arch, the chord of which is one fifth the 

 straight portion. The height of the arch is one-third its length. Behind the arch, 



