NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 283 



The color is a very dark purple, indistinctly and sparsely dotted with lighter. 

 The fins are colorless. 



A single female specimen was obtained by Mr. Xantus at Cape St. Lucas. 

 It differs from any of the previously described species by the combination of 

 characters indicated in the diagnosis, and is remarkable for its slender form, 

 which rivals that of Acentronura. 



Subfamily SYNGNATIIIN^ Kaup. 

 Genus DERMATOSTETHUS Gill. 



This genus is, perhaps, most closely related to Syngnathus, although in 

 some respects tending to Trachyrhamphus (Kaup), &c. It is readily distin- 

 guished from Syngnathus by the following characters : 



1st. The trunk and tail especially are considerably more robust. 



2d. The breast-shields are covered by the adipose skin. 



3d. The occiput is elevated and carinated. 



4th. The lower jaw is received within the upper. 



In all other respects it resembles Syngnathus. 



3. Dermatosthus punctipinnis Gill. 

 The height and width of the trunk nearly equal the head behind the eyes. 

 The head forms about an eighth of the total length ; the snout equals the 

 distance of the base of the pectoral fin from the eye, while the height at the 

 occiput is equal to the length of the operculum. The tail (exclusive of the 

 fin) is twice as long as the trunk. 



(2 +*) 18 | 9 (or U) 



I). 4042. Plates . 



(1 -ff) 19 (1) 39 

 The color is a uniform chestnut, while the dorsal fin has its rays dotted 

 with chestnut. 



Four specimens, all of which were males, of about twelve inches long, 

 were found at San Diego, California, by Mr. Trowbridge. 



Genus SYNGNATHUS (Linn.)" Kaup. 



This genus, as restricted by Dr. Kaup, is represented in California by five 

 species, which may be briefly distinguished by the characters assigned in the 

 following synopsis : 



Dorsal with 3842 rays. 



Postanal plates 46 47 S. californiensis. 



Postanal plates 4043 S. griseolineatus. 



Dorsal with 30 34 rays. 



Snout forming more than half the length of head. 

 Snout equal to interval between eye and base of 



pectoral. Nuchal plates scarcely keeled S. arundinaceus. 



Snout equal to interval between eye and end of pec- 

 toral fin. Nuchal plates sharply keeled S. leptorhynchus. 



Snout scarcely forming half the length of head S. dimidiatus. 



4. Syngnathus californiensis Storer. 

 Nee S. californiensis Girard. 

 19J | 9 



D. 42. Plates . 



1920 (1) 4647 

 California (1), W. Hutton. 



* Occipital and nuchal plates; in lhe formula for the othfr species they are omitted, 

 t First or gular plate ; in the formula for the others it is omitted. 



1862.] 



