150 [August, 



brown, two of which situated in advance of the dorsal fin. Occasionally, verti- 

 cal bands of a lighter hue may be observed on the sides, though in a very obso- 

 lete manner in the specimen before us. There is an oblique vitta upon the occi- 

 put extending from the eye towards the back, an interocular spot, and a suborbital 

 vitta from the orbit to the inferior surface of head. Lips blackish. Pectorals 

 and anal yellow. Caudal greyish yellow. 

 From Presidio, Cal. 



Genus APODICHTHYS, Girard. 



This genus is framed to include such species, as, having the general fascies of 

 Gunellus, are characterized by the total absence of ventral fins. 



The Gnnellua apos of Kamtschaka is to come under this heading, under the 

 appellation of Apodichthys apos. 



22. Apodichthys flavidus, G. The species referred to is between eleven 

 and twelve inches long. Its head is anteriorly rounded and truncated, and is 

 contained over nine times in the total length. The eye is rather small and sub- 

 circular, contained about seven times in the length of side of head. The mouth 

 is large, obliquely directed upwards, and the posterior extremity of the upper 

 maxillary extends to a vertical line which would pass behind the orbit. The 

 origin of dorsal is situated opposite the base of pectorals. A stylet-shaped bone 

 in advance of the anterior margin of anal, which is much nearer the extremity 

 of caudal than to the base of pectorals. The pectorals are short and rounded 

 upon their margin. The rays of the fins, as nearly as we can ascertain, are as 

 follows : 



D 86-90. A 40. C 4. 1. 11. 10. 1. 3. V 0. P 17. 



The scales are exceedingly small, and the lateral line not visible. 



Uniform yellowish, with a slight greyish hue. A narrow oblique black vitta 

 from eye to occiput, and a similar one from the inferior rim of the orbit to the 

 angle of the mouth. 



From Presidio, Cal. 



23. Apodichthys violacetjs, G The specimen before us is much smaller 

 than that from which the above species was described, having but three inches 

 and three-fourths of total length, in which the head is contained seven times. 

 The eye is subcircular, of medium size, and its horizontal diameter contained 

 five times in the length of the side of head. The mouth is likewise obliquely 

 directed upwards ; but the posterior extremity of the upper maxillary extends 

 only to a vertical line which would intersect the pupil. The origin of the dorsal 

 is situated immediately behind the base of the pectorals: its anterior third is 

 lower than the rest. The origin of the anal, which is much lower than the two 

 posterior thirds of the dorsal, is much nearer the base of the pectorals than to 

 the extremity of th* caudal. The latter is very small, posteriorly rounded, and 

 contiguous to both the dorsal and anal. The pectorals are short and rounded. 



I) 65. A 42. C 2. 1. 7. 6. 1. 2. V 0. P 10. 



The scales are small, but proportionally larger than in the preceding species; 

 and the lateral line, which is very conspicuous, may be traced from the upper 

 margin of the opercle to near the caudal ; from the opercle it ascends obliquely 

 for a certain distance, and then follows the outline of the back, keeping much 

 nearer the base of dorsal fin than the middle of the flanks. 



The anterior portion of body and head is of a uniform deep violet ; the posterior 

 portion exhibits a somewhat brownish ground, over which is spread a violaceous 

 tint ; the fins are all deep violet. A deep purple crescent-shaped vitta extends 

 from either eye to the occiput. Two oblique vitta? on the sides of head, start- 

 ing, one from the anterior, the other from the posterior half of orbit to the bran- 

 chiostegal apparatus. The interocular space is likewise marked with a transverse 

 narrow band slightly convex backwards. 



From San Luis Obispo, Cal. 



24. Anarkichas fems, G. Two large specimens of this fish were received 

 in such a precarious state of preservation that there was no possibility of keeping 



