258 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP 



lines running upwards and backwards. The first dorsal is generally more or 

 less punctulated with black. 



Many specimens were obtained. The species is, perhaps, most nearly re- 

 lated to the U. broussonettii (Cuv. et Val.) of the West Indies, but differs widely 

 in color, size of the scales, &c. 



A species of Sciaenoid of California has been described by Dr. Girard as 

 Umbrina undulata. I have not been able to examine the species, the only 

 specimen having been lent to Mr, Scudder, of the Cambridge Zoological Mu- 

 seum, who is now engaged in the study of Hamulon and the related genera. I 

 am unable to judge, from the description of Girard, to what this species is 

 most nearly related. On account of the presence of a single spine and nine 

 rays in the anal fin, it was formerly referred to Menticirrhus, but if Girard is 

 correct in describing the caudal fin as " posteriorly subtruncated," it can 

 scarcely belong to that genus. Girard states that " a small spine is placed be- 

 tween the two dorsal fins, and a similar one at the anterior margin of the 

 second dorsal," and atlributes "XL" spines to the first dorsal. Doubtless the 

 membrane had been simply torn from the "small spine," and it is possible that 

 he included the spine of the second dorsal as the eleventh. He must certainly 

 be mistaken when he attributes only four (IV.; IV.) branchiostegal rays to the 

 species. The color resembles that of Umbrina Xanli. 



Family POLYNEMATOIDJE Bleeker. 



Trichidion approximans Gill. 



Proc. of the Academy of Nat. Sciences of Phila., vol. xiii. p. 275. 

 Polynemus approximans Lay and Bennett, Beechey's Voyage to the Pacific, 



Zoology, p. 57. 

 Polynemus xanthonemus? Gunther, Catalogue of the Acanthopterygian Fishes, 

 &c, vol. ii. p. 325. 

 Many specimens were collected. 



Family NEMATISTIOIDJE Gill. 

 Genus Nematistius Gill. 



Body oblong or rather elongated, compressed, regularly diminishing in height 

 towards the caudal ; the caudal peduncle is slender but robust. Scales cycloid 

 and small, but very conspicuous, and arranged in moderately oblique rows 

 above and less oblique ones below. Lateral line simple and unarmed, scarcely 

 convex before and not angulated. Head little longer than high, compressed 

 and trenchant above, with the profile strongly decnrved from the dorsal fin to 

 the eyes, and with the snout oblique. Eyes in the anterior half of the head, 

 near the snout and the profile. Nostrils double, in front of the eyes. Sub- 

 orbital bones low. Opercula unarmed. Mouth rather large; the cleft very oblique 

 and continued under the eyes. Teeth villiform and small, especially on the 

 vomer and palatine bones. Branchiostegal rays six. Dorsal fins two, fold- 

 ing in a deep sheath; the first with eight filamentous spines; the 

 second low and elongated. Anal fin low and oblong, shorter than the second 

 dorsal and with one spine. Caudal fin forked and acutely lobed. Pectoral 

 fins acuminated. Ventral fins inserted under the bases of the pectorals ; each 

 with a long, slender, compressed spine contiguous to the first ray and with 

 six rays, the internal of which is compound, and has several contiguous branches 

 nearly or quite distinct. 



This very remarkable genus may be most aptly compared to Coryphana. A 

 more vivid idea of its physiognomy can be obtained by a comparison with the 

 Coryphce.ua hippuris ; if that species was somewhat abbreviated, the eye placed 

 over the posterior half of the cleft of the mouth and nearer the profile, the 

 single dorsal replaced by two, the first commencing above the pectoral and 



1862.] 



