A. REVIEW OF THE GYMNODONT FISHES OF JAPAN, By David Stark Jordan and John Otterbein Snyder, Of Uic Lehvtid Stanford Junior University. In the present paper is given an account of the Gymnodont fishes (Tetraodontidw, Tropodichthyida% Diodontids^, Triodontidtv, and Mol-idte) known from the waters of Japan. The paper is based on the collections made by the writers in Japan in 1900 under the auspices of the Hopkins Laboratory of Leland Stanford Junior University, and on the collections contained in the United States National Museum. A series of duplicates is in the United States National Museum. The accompanying drawings are the work of Miss Lydia M. Hart and Mr. A. H. Baldwin. MEASUREMENTS. The measurements given in this paper, except those quoted from other authors, were made as follows: Length of caudal peduncle, measured from end of base of anal to middle of base of caudal; length of head, from tip of snout to upper edge of gill opening; width of interorbital space, measured on the bony septum between the eyes; length of snout, from tip of snout to orbit; diameter of eye, longi-tudinal diameter of exposed iris; in numbering the dorsal and anal ravs the short anterior rays are included. Suborder GYMNODONTES. Plectognaths without a spinous dorsal, with the body short and with the belly intlata))le; the scales typically spiniform, with root-like insertions, and with the jaws enveloped in an enamel-like covering, without distinct teeth. This group contains degraded Plectognaths, which have lost the scales, spinous dorsal, and distinct teeth. In the extreme forms the pelvis, ribs, and caudal vertebra are also lost, the species depending on their deriual armature, leathery skin, or inilat-able belly for protection from enemies, while little power of active movement remains, {yv fxv 6 5, wAk^A; 06 ov 5, tooth.) ^^ Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXIV-No. 1254. 229
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