1855.] 323 



the upper. Lips thin, lower one free all around. Intermaxillaries slightly pro- 

 tractile. Teeth small, slender and conical, disposed upon a double series on 

 both jaws. Spinous portion of dorsal fin higher than the soft. Anterior articu- 

 lated rays of anal divided like the rest, and preceded by three small spines, lower 

 than the articulated rays. Scales of moderate development. Lateral line con- 

 current with the dorsal outliue. Scales upon the base of caudal and anal fins. 

 Dorsal groove rather short. Sheath formed anteriorly by three rows of scales, 

 tapering posteriorly. 



11. Exxichthys megalops, Grd. General appearance gibbous. Dorsal sheath 

 very short. Mouth large and oblique. Eyes very large, circular. Four rows 

 of scales on preopercle. Branchiostegals six. Eighty-five scales in lateral line. 

 Ash or greyish brown above. Sides and abdomen dull yellow or white ; a dif- 

 fused spot upon anterior third of anal. Other fins yellowish ; tips of pectorals 

 blackish or deep purple. 



Syx. Holoconotus megalops, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, 152. 

 Locality. San Francisco, Cal. Collection of Lieut. W. P. Trowbridge, U. S. A. 



12. Exxichthys heermaxxi, Grd. General form subelliptical : snout subcorn- 

 eal ; mouth moderate; posterior extremity of maxillary, even wih a vertical 

 line, intersecting the centre of the pupil. Eyes of medium size. Branchiostegals 

 six. Ai)out sixty-two scales in lateral line. Back olivaceous ; sides and abdo- 

 men silver and golden; flanks with indistinct transverse bars or bands. Fins 

 unicolor, yellowish and greyish. 



Syx. Amphistichus heermanni, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 18.54, 135. 

 Locality. San Francisco, Cal. Collected by Dr. A. L. Heermann. 



Genus AMPHISTICHUS, Agass. 



Head rather large. Mouth large ; jaws equal. Lips thin, lower one attached 

 by a frenum to the symphysis of the lower jaw. Intermaxillaries slightly pro- 

 tractile. Teeth stoutish, recurved, conical and disposed upon a double row on both 

 jaws. Spinous portion of dorsal fin generally lower than the soft, and sometimes 

 equal to it in height. Anterior articulated rays of anal divided like the rest 

 and preceded by three spines, the second and third of which being nearly as 

 deep as the first articulated ray. Scales of moderate development. Lateral line 

 concurrent with the dorsal outline. One row of scales along the base of anal. 

 The dorsal groove extends from middle of spinous portion of dorsal fin to about 

 the middle of soft portion of same fin. Sheath formed by two rows of scales an- 

 teriorly, tapering into one posteriorly. 



Syn. Amphistichus, Agass. Amer. Journ. of Sc. Second series, xvii. 1854, 367. 



13. Amphistichus argexteus, Agass. General form subelliptical, more con- 

 vex above than below. Snout anteriorly rounded. Posterior extremity of maxil- 

 lary reaching a vertical line passing behind the pupil. Anterior anal spines 

 rather large. Sixty-eight scales in lateral line. Branchiostegals, six. Bluish 

 grey above, sides silvery, with indistinct olivaceous transverse bands. Vertical 

 fins and ventrals olivaceous ; pectorals yellowish. 



Syx. Amphistichus argent em, Agass. Amer. Journ. of Sc. Second series, xvii. 

 1854, 367. Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, 141 and 153. 

 Locality. San Francisco, Cal. Collected by Dr. A. L. Heermann. 



14. Amphistichus similis, Grd. General form regularly subelliptical. Snout 

 subconical. Posterior extremity of maxillary reaching a vertical line passing 

 in advance of the pupil. Spinous portion of dorsal as high as the soft. Anterior 

 anal spines rather small. Branchiostegals, five. Bluish grey above : sides silvery. 

 Dorsal and caudal greyish yellow; anal, ventrals and pectorals dull yellowish. 



Syx. Amphistichus similis, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, 135. 

 Locality. Bay of San Francisco, Cal. Collected by Dr. A. L. Heermann ; also 

 in Collection of Lieut. W. P. Trowbridge. 



Full descriptions, accompanied with figures of all the species above enume- 

 rated, are ready for the press, and will shortly be published' by Congress. 



