726 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY - IV. 



383. BRACIIYOPSIS Gill. 



(? Lcptagonus Gill.) 

 (Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1861, -J.VJ: type Agon us restrains Tilesius.) 



Body elongate, fusiform, low, covered with spiiious plates. Head de- 

 pressed, spinous; mouth comparatively large, very oblique, the lower 

 ja\v projecting; jaws, vonier, and palatines with small teeth; gill-mem- 

 branes united, free from the isthmus; barbels few; spinous dorsal well 

 developed; ventral rays I, 2. (/fya^w?, short; <>0<r, face.) 



B. root rat us (Tilesius) Gill. 



Body more fusiform than in other species of this genus, very robust 

 in front of the middle, tapering to the slender tail. Head triangular 

 and pointed, as seen from above, the mouth quite narrow; eyes small, 

 well forward; head considerably depressed, snout without spine; a 

 short flap at angle of mouth; scales not very rough; gill-membranes 

 free from the isthmus; ventrals quite short; breast with a median row 

 of large raised convex plates; a row of similar plates bordering the 

 edge of the gill-opening, the three series forming a /j\-shaped figure, 

 the interstices filled with very small plates. "D. VIII-8; A. 13"; Lat. 

 1. 36. L. 8 inches. Alaska and Ivamtschatka; here described from 

 specimens lately obtained by Dr. Bean. 



(Agonus roatratits Tiles. M6tn. Acad. Pctcrsl). iv, pi. 14: Phtilangintesfusiformis Pallas, 

 Zoogr. Ross.-Asiat. iii, 11(>: Agonua rontratuy Giinther, ii, 214.) 



1113. B. vcrrucosus Lockington. 



Olivaceous, banded with darker; pectorals whitish at base, with si 

 dark spot above and below; terminal port ion dark; ventrals bright 

 01 an.ue \cllo\v with a large black spot inside of the first ray, and two 

 small spots near the tip in <?, the fin plain in 9. Body elongate, de- 

 pressed; mandrble narrow, not one-fourth as deep as long; maxillary 

 reaeliing slightly beyond front of eje, with a short barbel at tip; length 

 of b.irliel \ that of eye; ridges on head all rough; supraocular ridges 

 serrale; occipital and postorbital ridges without spines; preorbital with 

 about six spines; suborbital stay with two; preoperele \\iih two spines 

 near its angle; operele without spines; membrane of mandible with 

 small stellate t nlierelrs; plates on bod\ rough, each with a keel termi- 

 nating in a strong spine; the dorsal plates with small prickles also; 

 breast and base of pectoral tin with large, striate, wart-like tubercles; 

 plates of ventral series tubercular anteriorly; upper lateral series of 



