266 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



runs along the second row of scales from the dorsal fin, through eleven scales, 

 is moderately deflected on the eleventh, runs obliquely through four scales, 

 and is again continued horizontally on the fifth row from the top through 

 about thirty or thirty-one scales. 



Total length, 3 inches, 100 



Greatest height 14 



Least height (behind last dorsal ray) 4 



Thickness at pectorals 8 



Head Length 19 



Height over preoperculum 11 



Thickness at preoperculum 10 



" behind eyes 7 



Height at eyes 9 



Interorbital area 2 



Eye Diameter 3 



Distance from snout 3 



Dorsal Distance from snout 18 



Caudal Length 12 



Pectoral Length 16 



Ventral Length 12 



The Dactyloscopus tridigitatus is readily distinguished among its congeners 

 by its color and the number of scales through which the anterior elevated por- 

 tion of the lateral line runs. The body is also comparatively slender, and the 

 head short and narrow. The dorsal likewise commenees at a greater distance 

 from the head than in its nearest relation. 



This species appears to be quite extensively distributed through the Carrib- 

 bean sea. Three specimens, from wnich the species was originally described, 

 were discovered at the island of Barbados. Another specimen is preserved in 

 the Smithsonian Institution that was obtained at Garden Key, near the coast 

 of Florida. Mr. Poey has also detected an individual of the same species on 

 the Cuban coast, and has presented it to the Smithsonian Institution. 



Dactyloscopus Poeyi Gill. 



The greatest height is contained 16-100 times in the total length. The 

 head forms a fifth of the same ; its height over the inferior preopercular border 

 equals a half (11-20) and that at the eyes 9-20 of the length ; its greatest 

 width exceeds a half of its length, and that behind the eyes 8-20. The dorsal 

 fin is distant a sixth (16-100) of its length from the snout. The anterior part 

 of the lateral line runs through thirteen scales, is then deflected through three 

 and afterwards runs along the fifth row from the back through about thirty- 

 two. 



D. 11, 31. A. 2, 32. C. 1, I. 8, I. 1. 



The color is reddish brown, dotted with darker above the lateral line. The 

 head is also blotched and dotted with darker, through which the ground color 

 is exhibited in streaks and blotches, especially around the eyes. The oper- 

 culum is variegated ; the other opercular bones nearly immaculate. 



The body has the same form as the Dactyloscopus tridigitatus, but is more 

 robust ; the greatest height exceeds a sixth of the total length, (16-100) ; the 

 height at the caudal peduncle, behind the last dorsal ray, equals a fourth of 

 the greatest length. The thickness at the breast equals two-thirds of the 

 greatest height, (11-100 of the length). 



The head is plane above and obtusely angulated at the sides of the plane. 

 Its length constitutes a fifth (20-100) of the total. Its height between the 

 crown and the inferior margin of the preoperculum exceeds half of its length, 

 or 11-100 of the total. That at the articulation of the lower jaw does not 

 equal half of the length, (9-100 of the total). The thickness of the head be- 



[Sept. 



