106 



[June, 



Dorsal fin commences behind the pectorals and ventrals, has eight or nine spinous, 

 slightly curved rays, first short, half as long as second, second and third half as 

 long as its succeeding one. Articulated rays 28. Dorsal groove obsolete along 

 soft rays, the spinous rays projecting above it. Pectoral cuneate, with one very 

 short subspinous ray. Ventrals with one spinous and five articulated rays ; 

 connected with the abdomen by a membrane. A space extending from the base 

 of the ventrals to the vaginal orifice 1 in. wide, free of scales. First three 

 rays of anal fin spinous^; two rows of fine scales along tbe base of the anterior 

 third ; the posterior tw% thirds situated in a groove. Nostrils double, anterior 

 ones closed with a valve. 



Back regularly arched, with a slight incurvation in some along the frontal 

 bone. Curve of the belly greater than that of the back. Latter line com- 

 mencing at the upper angle of the opercle and nearly concurrent with the 

 back. Eyes very large, irides white, with a brown crescent above. Lips thin. 

 Jaws slightly protractile. Upper lip on a line with the superior edge of the 

 pupil, and with sides nearly vertical when the mouth is open. Head ash color 

 and dark brown. Back light brown with metallic tints, silver white below 

 the lateral line ; 22 24 silver white longitudinal stripes. Scales above the 

 lateral line, around the tail and anal fin smaller than the others. Outer edge 

 of dorsal membrane, caudal and ventrals darkly punctate. Tips of the ventrals 

 black. Length, including C. 9| in., width with D. 4.5 ; weight \ lb.; D. 8 to 

 9 spinous, 26 ramose; P. 1 spinous, 20 24 ramose; A. 3 spinous, 32 ramose; C. 

 22. 



Var. A. Punctatum. Smaller than the above, with sides punctate with black, 

 head shorter, eyes smaller, dorsal outline more curved and facial outline more 

 continuous with the curve of the back than the preceding. 



Cymatogaster aggregates, Gibbons. 



Back slightly arched, lateral line not concurrent with the dorsal outline, belly 

 curved more than the dorsum. Space behind the ventrals covered with scales. 

 Head ash color. Body with eight or nine longitudinal stripes of black dots, 

 commencing below the lateral line and becoming obsolete opposite the end of 

 the dorsal fin, which are interrupted by three or four lemon colored vertical 

 bands. Back dark brown with metallic tints. Belly and tail end silver white. 

 Extreme length 5 in.; width including the dorsal, 2.25 ; weight 2 oz ; D. 21 : 

 9 spinous, first short, second, third and fourth double the length of its pre- 

 ceding one ; V. 6, first spinous ; A. 15 or 16, first three short and spinous ; 

 C. 20 ; P. 20 or 24, first short and spinous. 



Cymatogaster minimus, Gibbons. 



Back more curved than the preceding ; back brown and with metallic tints, 

 sides punctate with black, with lemon color patches along the middle. A dif- 

 fused dark brown or black spot on the dorsal about the end of the spinous rays ; 

 membranes of the dorsal, the tail and anal punctated black, ventrals yellow at 

 base, tipped with black; a diffused black patch under the pectorals. 



D. 23 or 24, V. 6, A. IS to 20, P. 20 to 24, C. 20. About the same size as the 

 preceding species. 



Var. All the characteristics of the type, but with larger scales and of a 

 lighter color. Extreme length 6 in., width 3.25. 



Of the genus Cymatogaster 1 have already described two species. 



Synopsis of the Dermestidce of the United States. 



By John L. Le Conte, M. D. 



Following the arrangement proposed by Erichson, and introducing one new 

 genus, Apsectus, our native genera are thus related : 



1. Ocellus nullus ....... Dermestes. 



2. Ocellus frontalis : 



A. Mesosternum angustum ; coxae intermedia? approximate : 



(os liberum) . Attagenus. 



