1 T 



30 



Spinous portion of the dorsal fin is about equal in length to the remain- 

 ing portion and is continuous with each other without marked demarca- 

 tion in height. First and second spines short, seldom exceed in length 

 the diameter of the eye, third or fourth spine longest. Pectoral fin 

 large, its tip reaches the origin of the anal fin or a little more back- 

 ward. Posterior and lower margin of the pectoral is concave. 6 — 8 

 rows of scales between the preorbital and the inner ridge of the pre- 

 operculum. Limb of the preoperculum is partly covered with a few 

 scattered scales in many cases. Pyloric cceca 4. Teeth well developed. 

 2 rows of molars on both jaws (PI. VII, fig. i). Vomer and palatines 

 toothless. Frontals coalesced and solid; their surface nearly smooth 

 with fine striae (PI. VI). Occipital crest thin and triangular, its upper 

 border is a little thicker at the posterior portion. First spurious inter- 

 neural is sickle shaped and very thick (PI. VII, fig. i, c). Coloration 

 beautiful. Back reddish, generally with greenish lustre and there are 

 many blue spots. Belly silvery. Iris of the eyes brownish with golden 

 lustre. Upper portion of the orbit blue. Upper, posterior margin of 

 the operculum and the root of the pectoral fin dark brown. Lower 

 part of the caudal fin whitish, tinged with blue, while the posterior 

 margin of the fin is generally fringed with black. In old specimens the 

 coloration is dusky and blue spots are not found generally. Largest 

 fish is over one metre in length and about fifteen kilogrammes in weight. 

 Biological minimum size is about 30 cm. Spawning season April and 

 May. 



Geographical distribution. Japan, from the southern part of Hokkai- 

 do to Formosa ; Corea ; China. 



Vertical distribution. Depth of 20 — 200 metres. In the spawning 

 season the fish come to shallow waters of the depth of about 20 metres. 



• ' This species is known 1 as tai, madai or odai. It is the common 



