144 [August, 



those of the anal, which approximate to the base of caudal. The caudal is 

 slender and forked. The anal is very long and higher than the corresponding 

 portion of dorsal ; it is highest posteriorly and lowest upon the middle. The 

 base of the pectorals falls under the space between the third and fourth dorsal 

 spines. The ventrals are inserted much in advance of the base of pectorals, 

 immediately under the throat ; they are qaite small and slender. The pectorals 

 themselves are of but medium development. 



D XXXVII. 13. A II. 34. C 4. 1. 5. 4. 1. 3. V I. 3. P 13. 



The scales are very small, extending over the upper part of opercular appara- 

 tus to the cheeks ; also to the rays of the fins to about half their height or length. 

 The lateral line, from the upper angle of opercle runs almost straight till about 

 under the twelfth spine of dorsal, then obliquely downwards until near the middle 

 of flanks, thence straight to the base of caudal. 



Ground color above yellowish brown with irregularly transverse blotches, or 

 else interrupted, and then constituting longitudinal bands of a deeper hue. Head 

 above deep brown; upper part of opercular apparatus exhibiting an elongated 

 triangularly acute blotch, starting from the rim of the orbit. Sides and inferior 

 surface of head yellowish. Belly dull yellow. Fins yellowish, blotched, except 

 the pectorals, which are barred transversely, and the ventrals which are unicolor. 



Greatest length of specimen described about eleven inches. 



From San Diego, Cal. 



SPHYR^ENID^ s. Percims. 



4. Sphyr^ena argentea, G. A specimen of this species which lies before us, 

 is thirty-five inches in total length, of which the head forms a little less than the 

 fourth part. The body is stoutish, thickest upon its middle and somewhat com- 

 pressed, the depth being about one-third more than the thickness. The mouth 

 is moderate ; the posterior extremity of upper maxillary leaves a distance of 

 three fourths of an inch between it and the vertical of the anterior rim of the 

 orbit. Teeth on the intermaxillary, minute ; on the lower jaw, moderate ; on 

 the palate, conspicuous and strong. 



The eye is subelliptical, its anterior rim a little nearer to the tip of lower 

 jaw than to the posterior flap of opercular apparatus. The scales on the cheeks 

 are smaller than upon the opercular pieces ; there are none to be seen in advance 

 of the eye. The posterior extremity of anterior dorsal is nearly equidistant 

 between the tip of lower jaw and the base of central rays of caudal. The latter 

 is deeply forked. The extremity of pectorals is very far from reaching the 

 anterior margin of first dorsal. The upper margin of both, the second dorsal and 

 anal, is concave. 



D V. I. 11. A 1-9. C 4. 1. 8. 8. 1. 3. V I. 5. P 13. 



The scales are of rather medium size on the flanks, smaller on the back. The 

 lateral line is straight. 



The ground color of the upper region of head and body above the lateral line, 

 is bluish black; whitish on the sides and yellowish on the abdomen. The scales 

 have an argentine reflection which extends to the sides of the head and lower 

 jaw. The lateral line is black. The membrane of the dorsal, caudal, anal and 

 pectorals is yellowish, and their rays greyish; the ventrals are uniform 

 yellowish. 



From San Diego, Cal. 



COTTIDiE s. Cataphracti. 



5. Cottopsis parvus, G. May readily be distinguished from Cuttopsi* gulosus 

 by a more compact and more fusiform body, a smaller head and consequently a 

 much smaller mouth. The pectorals and ventrals are less developed, and the 

 outline of the first dorsal is more convex. The caudal is posteriorly subtruncated. 

 The insertion of ventrals is situated immediately behind the base of pectorals, 

 and a little in advance of the origin of the first dorsal ; and when brought back- 

 wards, their tip does not reach the anus. The tip of pectorals extends to a ver- 

 tical line which would pass in advance of the origin of anal. The anal is much 

 ovver than the second dorsal. 



D VIII. 21. A 15. C 5. 1. 4. 4. 1. 4. V I. 4. P. 15. 



