NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 507 



Length of snout 9J 



Diameter of orbit 5^ 



Width between eyes 4 



Height at occiput 11 



Width at occiput 9| 



Dorsal Distance from soout 30 



Height of second spine 13 



Height of second dorsal's second ray 10 



Height of second dorsal's penultimate ray 4^ 



Anal Distance from sncut 48 



Caudal Length of median rays 11 



Length of longest rays 14 



Pectoral Length 13 



Ventral Length 12 



This species is most nearly allied to the Sillago Japonica, which is an inhabi- 

 tant of the same geographical section, but it is amply distinguished from that 

 species by the more slender and elongated form, the smaller size of the scales, 

 and especially the number of rows above the lateral line, the color and the 

 rows of spots or bars which cross the front of the rays of the second dorsal tin. 

 Sillago Japonica has also eleven dorsal spines, while the specimen of S. par- 

 visquamis here described has twelve. 



It best agrees with Sillago maculata and ?. bassensis in the number of rows of 

 scales between the lateral line and dorsal, but the number is even greater than 

 in those species in which also there are only about seventy scales on the lateral 

 line, and five or six rows above. The scales of the cheeks are also cycloid and 

 not ctenoid as in the present. 



Finally, Sillago parvisquamis is distinguished among all the representatives of 

 the genus as now restricted by the small size of the scales, and, if constant, by 

 the number of dorsal spines, it having twelve, like the Sillaginodes punctatus, 

 while all others have eleven. 



A single specimen, somewhat damaged, is in a small collection of fishes made 

 by Dr. D. B. Simmons, at Kanagawa. It is preserved in the museum of Mr. 

 Brevoort, to whom I am indebted for the privilege of describing it. 



Synopsis of the CHiENICHTHYOIDS. 

 BY THEODORE GILL. 



Family CHIENICHTHYOIDS Gill. 



Synonymy. 

 Gobiida? part. Richardson. 

 Callionynioidei part. Bleeker. 

 Blennioidei (Comephoriformes part.) Bleeker. 

 Trachinida; (Trachinina part) Gilnther, 1860. 

 Trachinidae (Nototheniina part.) Gilnther, 1861. 



Acanthopterygii corpore elongato nudo, subcylindrico buccis inermibus, capite 

 occipite subplano, rostro elongato spahdiforme, ore terminale, magno ; palato 

 laevi ; aperturis branchialibus amplis membrana branchiostega radiis sex sus- 

 tenta, pinnis dorsali an&lique elongatis, portione spinosa pinnae dorsalis articulata 

 separata conjunctare; pinnis pectoralibus radiis ramosis ; pinnis ventralibus 

 jugalaribus et remotis, radiis I. 5 ; ventriculo ovali, ramo brevi ascendente ; 

 caecis pyloricis paucibus. 



Body rather elongated, gradually and regularly declining from the nape to 

 the caudal fin ; anteriorly subcylindrical or scarcely compressed. Skin naked. 

 Lateral line high on the sides and near the dorsal fin, interrupted near the end 

 of the latter. Head moderate or large, with the snout prolonged and spatuliform. 



1861.] 



