98 [z\PRlL, 



Highest scales of sides 3 times as high as long. All lateral scales quite into 

 the tail, strongly and sharply serrate on posterior margin. Surface of anterior 

 scales wrinkled from the serrations forward. 



Anterior margin of anal fin opposite posterior margin of dorsal. 



ELOXICHTHYS Giebel. J 



E. PELTiGEKUS, Newb. Body short, compressed. Length 5 inches. Height 

 1 in. 6 lines. Breadth 1 inch. Cephalic bones all ornamented by paral- 

 lel convolutions of thread lines. Scales all covered by similar raised lines, 

 which cross them diagonally downward and backward, terminating in serrations 

 of the posterior margins. 



About the middle of the interval between the occiput and dorsal fin, on toe 

 median line, begins a row of oval scales, four times as large as the scales of the 

 sides; ornamented in the same manner, extending in a single row along the me- 

 dian line to the dorsal fin, and behind the dorsal fin to the tail, where they are 

 transformed into the large striated fulcra, which overlie the prolongation of the 

 vertebral to its termination. 



These abnormal scales of the dorsal line are a striking peculiarity in the 

 species, and have suggested the name given it. 



CCELACANTHUS Agass. 



1. C; ROBUSTUS Newb. Body robust, 1 foot 6 inches in length. Upper sur- 

 face of cranium covered with small closely approximated tubercles; maxillaries 

 and opercula threaded with fine parallel, sometimes interrupted lines. Margins 

 of opercula in mature specimens wavy. 



Scales elliptical, thin, 7 to 9 lines in length, nearly half the surfiice exposed; 

 exposed portion covered with thread-like lines similar to those of the opercula 

 and maxillaries, and which converge toward the posterior angle of the scale. 



C. OKNATUS, Newb. Body fusiform, slender, scarcely wider than head. Size 

 small, not exceeding 4 to 5 inches in length. Upper surface of head ornamented 

 with tubercles, which are much larger and more remote than in preceding 

 species. Opercula and maxillaries threaded, and like the scales having stronger 

 markings than in the larger species. 



Radial formula, 



A. D. 8 ; P. D. 5 ; C. 24 ? ; A. 6 ; V. ? ; P ? 



C. BLEGANS Newb.' Body fusiform, robust, 6 to 8 inches in length. Cranial 

 Hurface covered with closely apprQximated tubercles. Surface of opercular and 

 maxillary bones threaded. All the ornamenting of head relatively stronger than 

 in C. robvMus, but less so than in C. ornatus. Scales similar in form and mark- 

 ings to those of both these species, but more delicate than either. Anterior 

 dorsal fin slightly in advance of ventrals. Posterior dorsal as much forward of 

 anal fin. 



Pvadial formula. A D. 7 ? ; P D. 5 ; C. 22 ; A. 6 ; A^ 9 ? 



PYGOPTERUS Agass. 



P. scuTELLATUS Newb. Body fusiform, slender, 15 to 18 inches in length. 

 Head depressed. Snout pointed. Both jaws thickly set with couical. slender, 

 acute, striated teeth of unequal size. Scales very small and thick, higher than 

 long. Head and anterior portion of body covered with articiilated plates orna- 

 mented with strong, radiating, raised lines. None of my specimens show the 

 form of the caudal fin. 



This fish presents such striking differences in its scales and plates from all 

 described species of I'ygopterus^ that I have hesitated about placing it in that 

 genus. It would seem,' however, to have much in common with P. Grcmockii 

 Agass., not yet fully described. 



