262 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OF 



tion below and attached to the throat. Branchiostegal rays 5 5. Dorsal fin 

 low, entirely spinous. Anal fin unarmed. Caudal small, entire. Pectoral 

 fins moderate. Ventral obsolete. 



Type Anoplarchus purpurescens Gill. 



This genus is most nearly related to Murcenoides and Apodicthys, but is de- 

 cidedly distinct from each. 



It differs from Murcenoides by the uniserial teeth of the jaws and the unarmed 

 palate, the attachment of the branchiostegal membrane to the throat beneath, 

 and the consequent restriction of the branchial apertures to the sides, and the 

 absence of anal spines as well as of ventral fins. 



The genus Apodicthys agrees with Anoplarchus in the absence of the ventral 

 fins, and of palatine and vomerine teeth, but is readily distinguished from it 

 by the character of the dentition and by the presence of a large calamiform 

 spine behind the anus and separated from the anal fin, as well as by the con- 

 tinuity of the branchial apertures beneath. 



Anoplarchus purpurescens Gill. 



The general form resembles that of a Murcenoides or Apodicthys. The height 

 before the dorsal fin nearly equals a ninth of the total length, (11-100), and 

 its greatest height in front of the anus an eighth (12^-100) of the same. The 

 caudal peduncle behind the last dorsal spine is about a third of the greatest 

 height, or a twenty-fifth (4-100) of the length. 



The head, from the closed lower jaw to the opercular angle, forms about an 

 eighth (13-100) of the total length. The snout is convex ; the interval be- 

 tween the snout or rather symphisis of the upper jaw and the orbit forms 

 nearly a fifth of the length of the head ; the distance between the orbits nearly 

 equals a ninth. The diameter of the orbit equals the distance between the 

 snout and orbit. 



The dorsal fin commences above or slightly in advance of the pectoral fins, 

 and at the commencement of the second eighth of the total length. The length 

 of most of the rays averages about a third of the head's length or a twenty- 

 fifth of the total. 



The anal fin commences immediately behind the anus ; it commences at a 

 distance from the snout equal to thirty-seven hundredths of the entire length. 

 The average height equals a third of the length of the head. 



The caudal fin is convex behind, and forms nearly a twelfth (8-100) of the 

 total length. 



The pectoral fins are normally developed, convex behind, and nearly equal 

 in length to half of the head, (6-100). 



D. LVI. A. 41. C. 2, 7, 6, 2. P. 1, 11. 



The color of the species is dark purple. An oblique light purple band 

 crosses the cheek from the eye and is margined by a lighter line on each side, 

 which separates it before from the dark narrower band behind the supra- 

 maxillary bone, and another dark one behind which merges into the light 

 purple color of the rest of the head. The pectoral fin has a black spot at the 

 middle of its base. The caudal fin has several transverse light brown lines, 

 and a well defined one at its base ; near the root of the upper and of the lower 

 rays respectively, there is also a blackish dot, encircled by light brown. 



Total length, (3 8-10,) 100 



Body Height before dorsal 11 



" before anus 12 



" behind last dorsal spine 4 



Width at pectorals 6 



Head Greatest length 13 



Interval between snout and orbit 2^ 



Width between orbits l| 



[Sept. 



