1856.] 188 



OlIGOCOTTUS MACCLOSnS. 



being the only species known at present, we will characterize it by saying : 

 " that the mouth is moderately cleft ; the posterior extremity of the maxillary 

 extending to a vertical line intersecting the pupil. A stoutish bicuspid processus 

 on the convexity of the preopercle. Two acute nasal spines. Anterior dorsal 

 lower than the second or posterior. Yellowish brown above, mottled or varie- 

 gated with blackish ; along the dorsal region a series of blotches of a deeper hue; 

 lower half of the sides vermiculated. Abdomen of a bright saffron or yellow 

 hue in the male. Inferior surface of head with traces of black markings ; throat 

 and abdomen unicolor, as also the ventrals and anal. Dorsals, caudal, and 

 pectorals transversally barred." 



It has been observed on several points of the coast between the bay of San 

 Francisco, Cal., to Puget Sound, W. T. In 1854, a few dried up specimens were 

 taken near Presidio by Lt. W. P. Trowbridge, but their precarious state of 

 keeping did not permit us to classify them. The same was the case with those 

 collected at Fort Steilacoom by Dr. Geo. Suckley. It is but very recently that 

 well preserved specimens, collected by B. Samuels, in Tomales Bay, Cal., having 

 reached us, we have been prepared to determine their position in the ichthyic 

 method. 



The fish mentioned by Dr. Ayres under the name of Acanthocottusinermis jiroyes 

 to be my Leptocottus armatus. 



Next in order is another and entirely new genus, for which the name of 



LEIOCOTTUS, 



has been selected, more particularly in reference to its smooth aspect. Its char- 

 acters are : " head pei'fectly smooth : spines upon the preopercle only. Mouth 

 moderately cleft : jaws equal. Teeth upon the premaxillaries, dentaries and 

 front of the vomer ; none on the palatines. Barbules upon the maxillaries. 

 Gill openings continuous under the throat ; branchiostegal rays five. Dorsals 

 nearly contiguous upon their bases. Ventrals inserted backwards of the base 

 of tlie pectorals. Caudal posteriorly subtruncated. Skin perfectly smooth, 

 bearing neither prickles nor scales. Lateral line well marked and continuous 

 from head to tail." 



The species which has come under my observation has so much of the 

 aspect of Trigla that the specific name of 



Leiocottus hirundo 



suggested itself for it." The snout is declivous and rather pointed; the poste- 

 rior extremity of the maxillary is provided with two or three barbules and 

 reaches a vertical line drawn a little beyond the anterior rim of the orbit. Su- 

 perior regions blackish brown ; abdomen whitish beneath ; inferior part of tail 

 yellow." 



It was collected by Lt. W. P. Trowbridge, U. S. A. at the island of San 

 Miguel, Cal. 



Dr. Ayres' Ilemitriptcrus marmoratus, is my Scorpj^nichthys marmoratus, 



Clypcocottus robustus of the same author, is my Aspicottus bison. 



The species described by me as Scorpcenichthys lateralis was subsequently re- 

 ferred by Dr. Ayres to a new genus of his under the denomination of Calycilepi- 

 dotus lateralLi, together with another species at that time unknown to me, under 

 the name of C. spi/iosus. On a former occasion Dr. Ayres had announced the 

 presence of two species of hemilepidoti in the Bay of San Francisco, for which 

 he proposed the names of II. nebulosus and H. spinosus. My Scorpcemchihys 

 lateralis was subsequently identified by himself to his If. nebulosus, and it was 

 then that the genus Calycilepidotus appeared with two species: C. spinosus and 

 C. lateralis. 



G. spinosus I have carefully examined, and I am satisfied that its proper place 

 is in the genus Ilemilepidotus, as characterised by Cuvier. In order, however, 

 to furnish reliable data to go upon, I must be permitted to offer a diagnosis of 

 of that genus as it now stands. 



10 



