ON THE ICHTHYOLOGY OP THE SEAS OF CHINA AND JAPAN. 225 



Otolithus argenteus, Kulil et Van Hassclt, apud C. et V. v. p. 62? 



Icon, Reeves, 200; Hardw. Acanth. 133. Bad. D. 10|-1|28; A. 2|7 ; 



P. 17; V. 1|5. (Chin. Spec. Cam. Ph. Inst.). 



In the absence of specimens or figures of the Batavian O. argenteus, the Chinese fish can be 

 referred to the same species only with doubt. An example of the Chinese fish was presented 

 to the Cambridge Philosophical Institution by the Uev. George Vachell. 



An outer row of short, equal subulate teeth, moderately widely set, arm both jaws, and 

 within the upper ones there is a narrow microscopical villiform band, but none such are per- 

 ceptible on the lower jaw. A long, curved, and not stout canine stands on each side of the 

 symphysis of each jaw, the upper ones being widely apart, so as to receive the inferior pair be- 

 tween them. The lower jaw is slightly longer than the snout. Curve of the lateral line 

 completed opposite to the anus and middle of the second dorsal. The bony operculum is 

 traversed by two fine ribs whose ends project slightly, the notch between them being inconspi- 

 cuous. The second anal spine is slender, weak, and only half the length of the soft rays; 

 the first one is a mere point. Length of specimen, 6*55 inches; length of head, 1*55 inch ; 

 length from snout to anus, 3*55 inches; from snout to caudal, 5*50 inches; height of body, 

 1-25 inch. 



Hab. Canton. Straits of Malacca 1 (Major Farquhar). Javan sea? (K. et V. H.) 



Otolithus tridentifer, Richardson. Icon. Reeves, (3. 54; Hardw. Acanth. 

 132. Chinese name, San ya (Birch) ; Sannga (Reeves), " Three-teeth;" 

 Sam ngd (Bridgem. Chrest. 142). Bad. D. 10|-l|27; A. 2|6 ; P. 15; 

 V. 1|5. (Spec. Br. Mus.) 



Two strong curved canines above and one below near the symphysis, with an equal row of 

 lateral subulate teeth on both jaws, more closely set in the lower one. By aid of a lens, a 

 narrow band of villiform teeth can be detected within the others above ; and beneath there are 

 a few intermixed with the principal ones. Some striae are visible on the end of the maxillary ; 

 and there are depressions on the lower jaw, but no pores could be detected. The preoper- 

 culum is armed feebly by small acute teeth, and the bony operculum shows two narrow points 

 separated from each other by a fissure. The fish is pale and silvery, with a light bluish gray 

 tint along the back. The lower half of the caudal, front of the anal, ventrals, and the pectorals 

 are gall-stone yellow. The rest of the fins are pale and spotless, the upper half of the caudal 

 alone being deeper and approaching to blackish-gray. 



Hab. China seas. Canton. 



Corvina grypota, Richardson. Icon. Reeves, /3. 12; Hardw. Acanth. 



Chinese name, Hwo tow (Reeves, Birch); Wak tdu (Bridgem. Chrest. 127). 



Bad. D. 10|-1|29; A. 2|7 vel 8 ; C. 18-J-; P. 18 ; V. 1|5. (Spec. Hasl. Mus.) 



Most of the collections of Chinese fish that we have examined contain examples of a Corvina, 

 which with the general aspect of C. coitor of Buchanan Hamilton (pi. 27. f. 24), has a 

 straighter profile and a shorter and blunter snout that curves downwards from the nostrils, 

 much like that of Umbrina vulgaris ; it seems to be allied to Scicena lucida. Upper jaw armed 

 by a concave densely villiform plate of teeth with a stronger subulate outer row, brownish at the 

 tips, which are even ; on the lower jaw the villiform plate is boldly convex. Minute pores exist 

 on the snout, and there are five large pores at the end of the lower jaw. The scaly preorbitar 

 receives beneath its edge, the entire maxillary and all the intermaxillary except the dental 

 margin. A deep recess exists on the outside of the maxillary pedicles, and a little triangular 

 point of the preorbitar lip hangs over it. The limbs of the lower jaw are scaly, and thin bony 

 ridges of the suborbital* chain cross the scaly cheek. The preoperculum is bounded towards 

 the cheek by a smooth bony edge ; its posterior edge is free and is widely set with slender 

 subulate teeth, the most distinct ones being the tips of ribs which cross the disc of the bone. 

 Interoperculum entire, mostly concealed beneath the preoperculum ; suboperculum also entire, 

 rather narrow. Two low even diverging ribs cross the operculum and end in points which are 

 scarcely pungent, and the edge of bone between them is nearly even. Lateral line formed by 

 a series of simple tubes, boldly arched anteriorly, and becoming straight in the tail by a gra- 

 dual sweep ending opposite the beginning of the anal. Scales tender, nacry, and very deci- 

 duous. Second anal spine not strong, a little shorter than the soft rays. Caudal subrhomboidal. 

 Ventrals with a short filamentous tip. Colour mostly silvery, with some yellow tints on fore 

 part of anal, ventrals, and pectorals. Length about 7 inches. 



Hab. Canton. 



Corvina sina, C. et V. v. p. 122 ; Temm. et Schl. F. J. p. 58. pi. 24. f. 2; 

 Icon. Reeves, 94 ; Hardw. Acanth. 130. Chinese name, Hwang Hwa, 

 1845. Q 



