BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
518 
431. Antennarius sandvicensis (Bennett). 
Entire length 4.5 inches; depth of body 2 inches. Color, dull-orange or yellow-red, with circular 
black spots on the body and tins. Eyes small and placed high in the head; when touched or threat¬ 
ened instantly retiring for protection beneath the upper eyelid. Iris red. Jaws and palate armed 
with many rows of teeth. Lower jaw protruding beyond upper. Forehead furnished with a long 
and rigid filament or barbel, which, from its use as a bait for prey, has obtained for this family of 
fish the name of “anglers.” The tins on the upper surface of the body are peculiarly arranged. The 
first (which I dare call a dorsal) is composed of one stout spinous ray, with a membrane attached, 
and is placed in front of the summit of the head; the second is similarly formed, and situated imme¬ 
diately behind the head; the third occupies the posterior two-thirds of the back, and is composed of 
12 branched rays. Rays of the anal tin 7; caudal 9. 
The pectoral tins bear a very close resemblance to the anterior extremities of a frog or lizard, and 
the 10 distinct rays, at the termination of each, complete the comparison by their resemblance to 
toes. A long membranous air-tube, communicating with the gills, passes beneath the integuments of 
this fin, and opens as a circular orifice at its joint or elbow. 
The solitary example of this species, which we obtained from the shores of Oahu, Sandwich 
Islands, continued alive for many hours after it had been removed from the water. During this time 
its abdomen and throat remained distended to a great size, but previous to death both air and water 
were evacuated from the mouth, and the body collapsed. Dissection proved that the cavity of the 
stomach was the part thus distended. The fish has no ribs, though it has a very distinct sternum. 
The swim-bladder is small and of ovoid form. (Bennett.) 
We have one specimen from Honolulu which agrees closely with fig. C, plate 100, in Gunther’s 
“Fische der Siidsee” regarded by him as a variety of -1. commersonii. Our specimen is probably 
identical with Bleeker’s horridus and appears to be Bennett’s LopKius sandvicensis. It shows the 
following characters: 
Eye very small, its diameter contained 3 times in length of maxillary; “bait” hair-like, its length 
equal to that of maxillary, reaching beyond base of second spine when depressed, the tip with a cluster 
of short filaments; first spine reaching base of second when depressed, surrounded by thickened 
tissue, the membrane extending from near tip of spine to base of second, very thin; second spine 
easily elevated, connected with occiput by a thick membrane, the spine surrounded by a large amount 
of tissue, its width equal to diameter of eye; spine when depressed not reaching soft dorsal; dorsal of 
the same height throughout, just reaching base of caudal when depressed; rays 12; anal reaching 
beyond base of caudal, its edge rounded; length of space between base of anal and caudal one-half 
that between base of dorsal and caudal; caudal rounded, its length 2.5 in length of body; anal opening 
at base of pectoral. Skin with very fine prickles, a few small cutaneous flaps on head, chin, and back. 
Color in spirits, light gray, thickly mottled and spotted with dark gray; a few white-edged blackish 
spots on body and tins, located as follows: At base of second dorsal spine, origin of dorsal, between 
eighth and ninth dorsal rays, on side between origin of dorsal and base of pectoral, on side posterior 
to pectoral, on anal tin, on upper and on lower edge of caudal. 
Known to us only from one specimen, which is 3.07 inches' long. 
Lapkins sandvicensis Bennett, Nar. Whaling Voy., II, 25$, 1810, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands. 
AntcnnariiLS lwrridus Bleeker, Nat. Tjds. Ned. Ind., V, 1853. S3. Celebes, Flores, Solor, and Amboyna. 
Antennarius sandvicensis. Jordan & Snyder, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XXVII, 918, 1901 (Honolulu). 
432. Antennarius commersonii (Lacepede). 
Head 3 in length; depth 1.7; eye 3.5 in snout; snout 2.5 in head; maxillary 1.25; width of mouth 
1.5; D. 1-1-12; A. 7; P. 10; V. 5. 
Body deep, compressed, rather Chick at pectoral region; head deep, profile above oblique, below 
convex; snout short, very broad, convex above; mouth very large, slightly oblique forward; mandible 
large, vertical, with small knob at symphysis, and lower portion slightly produced; teeth in jaws in 
bands, slender, sharp-pointed, depressible; teeth on palatines similar; tongue large, thick, fleshy; eye 
very small, high, anterior; nostrils close together, anterior with raised fleshy rim; interorbital space 
very broad, elevated, uneven; bait long, reaching middle of second spine; extremity of bait bifid, one 
portion a broad cutaneous flap, the other forming a bunch of fleshy tentacles; no pit on top of head; 
first dorsal spine united to top of head by a membrane, and depressible; second spine large, adnateto 
