DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW GENERA AND SPECIES OF FISHES FROM JAPAN AND THE RIU KIU ISLANDS. John Otterbein Snyder, Of Stanford University, California. This paper contains descriptions of 3 new genera and 23 new species of fishes from Japan and the Riu Kiu Islands. They were collected during the explorations of the United States Bureau of Fisheries steamer Albatross in the north Pacific Ocean and along the shores of Japan, in 1906. Family SYNGNATHID.E. MICROPHIS EXTENSUS, new species. This species is closely related to M. pleurotxnia of Hawaii. Two examples of the latter agree with Giinther's description of the species and differ from Microphis extensus in both color and form. The Hawaiian species has the light bands very broad, thus confining the light area on the side of the body to the dorsolateral row of plates, and almost eliminating it from the breast and abdomen. The caudal fin is without spots, having a dusky center and an indefinite, broad, light edge. The ridges of the snout are smoother and the body is considerably broader and heavier. The caudal fin is much less acute. There are 24 to 25 dorsal rays in M. pleurotsenia, while M. extensus has 21 or 22. Head 4.5 in length measured to base of caudal fin; depth 3.5 in head; depth caudal peduncle 7.5; snout 2; eye 4; interorbital space 9; D. 22; A. 4; rings 19 + 15. Two strongly denticulated ridges extend from snout to inter-orbital space; a dorsolateral denticulated ridge from tip of snout to orbital rim, which is also serrated; upper edge of opercle with a strong ridge from which many strias radiate. Osseus rings of body with strong keels at the angles which have spines posteriorly, the spines growing larger on the tail ; plates with only a trace of a median keel. Dorsal located on seven rings beginning with the sixteenth., Caudal fin pointed, the length contained about 1.4 times in the head. Pectoral broadly rounded, about 2 in snout; nivs, 18. Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. 40— No. 1836. 525
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