NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 165 



is oblong, constricted at the nape, thick and tumid, and with a high projecting 

 tumid snout. The mouth is small and entirely inferior, the periphery semi- 

 oval, and the supramaxillary almost entirely concealed. The preoperculum is 

 armed with small spines radiating from the angle, and with none directed verti- 

 cally downwards. 



From Rhinoscion, it is additionally distinguished by the large scales. 



A more distinct idea of the physiognomy of the genus may be obtained, if it 

 is stated that I was immediately reminded on seeing it of the Siluroid genus 

 Bagrichthys of Bleeker. 



Ophioscion typicus Gill, 

 The height equals a quarter of the total length. The head enters rather 

 more than 4 times in the same. The caudal equals the interval between the 

 posterior nostril and opercular flap (?) and is rhomboid. The snout equals the 

 diameter of the eye, and enters 4^ times in the head's length ; the interorbital 

 region is little convex, and is held 3h times in the same. Tne supramaxillary 

 bone scarcely extends to the vertical from the centre of the eye, and when re- 

 tracted, only the inferior projection of the angle is visible. The third dorsal 

 spine is the longest, and equals half the distance between the snout and the 

 middle of the base of the pectoral. The second anal spine is very robust, but 

 not longer than the third dorsal ; the margin of the fin behind is convex. The 

 pectoral fin equals the interval between the snout and the upper angle of the 

 preoperculum ; the ventral is somewhat longer, the outer branch of the first 

 ray being prolonged. 



D. X. I. 23. A. II. 7. C. IV. 1. 8. 7. 1. III. P. I. 1. 14. V. I. 5. 

 5 



Scales 49 

 10 



The lateral line is subangulated at about the twentieth scale and above the 

 great anal spine. 



The color is greenish-gray above, yellowish-silvery below. The fins are 

 yellowish ; the unpaired one more or less clouded with grayish. 



One specimen, eight inches long, is in the collection. 



Genus AMBLYSCION Gill. 



This genus differs from Larimus by the nearly rectilinear profile, slightly 

 depressed between the eyes, the almost or quite vertical cleft of the mouth, and 

 the uniserial teeth of the jaws. The symphysis of the upper jaw is edentulous 

 and emarginated ; thelower jaw is deeper at the symphysis. The other external 

 characters are those of Larimus. 



Amblyscion argenteus Gill. 



The greatest height enters 3 times in the total length ; the head equal the 

 height. The caudal enters Q\ times in the same. The snout is rather less than the 

 eye ; the latter enters 5 times in the length of the head. The interorbital area 

 equals the eye's diameter. The height of the caudal peduncle is a half greater 

 than the eye. The pectoral fins extend to the vertical from the third articu- 

 lated ray of the second dorsal. The anal fin begins under the twentieth and 

 ends under the sixteenth rays of the second dorsal. 



D. X. I. 29. A. II. 6. C. II. 1. 8. 7. 1. I. P. 1. 14. V. I. 5. 



The color is silvery, hoary above. 



One specimen, about thirteen inches long. 



Family CARANGOIDJE. 



Genus CARANX (Coram.) Gill 

 Gnathanodon Bleeker. 

 1863.] 



