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Show 918 MR. G. A. BOULENGER ON A GIGA.NTI0 SEA-PERCH. [Nov. 30, 20 rays, | length of head. Ventral slightly shorter than pectoral, measuring ^ the distance between its base and the origin of the anal. Latter short, III 8, originating below middle of soft dorsal; spines adnate, very indistinct. Caudal feebly notched, middle rays | length of outer. All the soft fins covered with very minute scales. Caudal peduncle 1^ as long as deep. Scales rough, 115 if; lat. 1. 80. Uniform blackish brown. A comparison of these notes with Hilgendorf's description shows agreement on all points save the number of soft dorsal rays, which is ascribable to mere individual variation, since other Californian specimens have 10 rays just as in the Japanese. The resemblance with the photograph further confirms the probable identity ; the curious shape of the head, the proportions of the body and fins, even the slightly emarginate caudal and the indistinctness of the anal spines are the same in both, as any ichthyologist may convince himself on inspection of the plate appended to this paper. The scales are a little larger in the Japanese specimen, but this difference appears to me to be within the limits of individual variation, as ascertained in the gigantic Berches of the genera Polgprion and Eplnephalus. The stronger angles of the caudal in the Californian specimen do not seem to afford a reliable character since Jordan and Evermann describe the fin as " nearly truncate." Skull very similar to that of Polgprlon, to which genus Stereolepis is nearer allied than to any other. Ascending processes of prasmaxillaries short, not extending to the frontals, which are large, broad, rugose but without crests : parietal and supraoccipital bones not extending forwards to between postfrontal processes; supraoccipital crest low ; second suborbital bone developing a subocular lamina which is longer than broad and rounded behind ; supplemental maxillary bone well developed, half the length and one-third the width of the maxillary. Jaws, vomer, and palatines with villose bands of minute sharp teeth. Vertebrae 124-14. First and second with slender epipleurals attached to the neural arch; third, fourth, and fifth with strong sessile ribs with epipleurals attached at a considerable distance from their base ; from the sixth vertebra, the ribs are borne by parapophyses which gradually increase in length ; the last three prsecaudal parapophyses connected ventrally by a bridge; the last two epipleurals attached to the parapophyses of the eighth and ninth vertebras. Bibs much dilated, especially the last three, with broad inner crest. First interhseuial suspended from the first caudal vertebra. The vertebral formula, as tabulated on p. 115 of the ' Catalogue of Fishes,' is as follows :- A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. 26 12 2 4 0 6 3 14 Two specimens are represented in the drawing now exhibited (Plate LIL), the upper figure being taken from the stuffed Californian specimen described above, the lower from a photograph of the type of Megaperca ischlnagl, from Japan, preserved in the Berlin Museum. |