63. AULOEHYNCHIDJE - AULORHYNCHUS. 391 



FAMILY LXIIL-AULORHYNCHID.E. 



Body elongate, nearly cylindrical, with a very slender, depressed cau- 

 dal peduncle. Skin naked, with a few series of partly concealed plates. 

 Mouth terminal, small, at the end of a tube which is about as long as 

 the rest of the head; teeth very small ; brauchiostegals 4. Gill-mem- 

 branes slightly connected, free from the isthmus. Dorsal fin with many 

 small, low, free spines, each of which is depressible in a groove ; soft 

 dorsal short, elevated in front ; anal similar to the second dorsal, pre- 

 ceded by a single spine ; caudal fin small, forked. An oblong, naked 

 area in front of the pectorals. Ventral s thoracic, but inserted some- 

 what behind pectorals, I, 4, or I, 5. Genns 1; species 2. Small fishes 

 of the North Pacific, intermediate between the Sticklebacks and the 

 Trumpet-fishes. 



(Aulorlujticlddce Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1832, 233.) 

 a. Skin of head naked ; veutrals 1, 5 ; pectoral fins euiargiiiate.. .AuLORHYXCiius, 192. 



193. AULORHYNCHUS Gill. 



(Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1861, 109 : type Anlorhynchus flavidus Gill.) 



Body very long and slender, almost cylindrical; caudal peduncle 

 elongate, tapering, much depressed, especially posteriorly. Skin naked, 

 with a series of small, rugose shields, one on each side of the lateral line, 

 one on each side of the dorsal fin, and a double row on the lower edge 

 of caudal peduncle. Lateral line present. Head not mailed. Mouth 

 small, horizontal, at the end of a tube which is slightly longer than 

 the rest of the head. Premaxillary bones much expanded, with long 

 and slender processes; lower jaw projecting, with a flap at symphysis. 

 Teeth in the jaws rather sharp, almost in one series; palate tooth- 

 less. Dorsal spines numerous, entirely separate, equal and very short, 

 the first inserted above the pectorals. Dorsal and anal fins posterior, 

 nearly equal, oblong, elevated in front; caudal fin small, einargiuate; 

 pectoral fins emargiuate, the upper and lower rays longest; ventrals 

 not much behind pectorals, each with 1 spine and (4) 5 rays. 

 a tube; /5f^?, snout.) 



a. Lateral shields imbedded, not spinous. (Aulorhynchus.) 



625. A. flavidus Gill. 



Tawny, with about 20 darker cross blotches on the back ; minutely 

 puuctulate above ; opercula and ante-pectoral region with bright golden 

 or coppery lustre, bordered above by a blackish band. Gill rakers sleu- 



