DISCISSION OF SPECIES AND THEIS DISTRIBUTION. 449 



its width being contained I times in the length of the head. A prominent ridge extends 

 from the upper posterior margin of the lowereye to the lower posterior margin of the upper 

 eye. i hence widening and curving downward to the upper angle of t he branchial aperl lire. 

 The margin of the preoperculnm is also somewhat elevated. The length of the operculum 

 is very slightly greater than the width of the interorbital space. 



There are 1 1 short and thick gill rakers ou the anterior arch, the Longest equal in Length 

 to one-tin rd tlic diameter of t he eye. 



The dorsal tin begins on the blind side of the body in advance of the anterior margin of 

 the lower eye; its anterior lays are almost lice, the longest lays behind its middle, its 

 greatest height equal to the Length of the upper jaw. 



The anal is inserted under the. anterior angle of the pectoral axilla. Its anterior rays 

 are less free than are those of the dorsal, about t wo thin Is of I heir length being extruded 

 from their membrane. Its outline similar to that of the dorsal, lint greatest height some 

 what less, being one-third the length of the head. 



'fhc greatest Length of the caudal equals the Length of the head without the snout, and 

 one- fifth of the body length. Its middle rays are somewhat Longer than t he outer rays, giv 

 ing to the posterior margin the outline of an obtuse angle. 



The pectoral is inserted at the tip of the opercular flap; its second and third rays much 

 produced in a filamentous extension. Its greatest length slightly exceeds \h times that of 

 the head. The pectoral on the blind side has no prolonged rays; its greatest length equal- 

 ing that <>f the upper jaw. 



'fhc ventral on the eyed side is inserted on the ridge of the abdomen slightly behind its 

 mate, which is a little removed from the medial line. 



Distance between insertion of the ventral and the snout equals one-fourth the length 

 of the body. The length of the ventral equals one third jhat of the head. Vent close to 

 the origin of anal, and slightly removed from the medial point, of the body on the blind 

 side; behind it a small papilla, one fourth as long as the eye. 



Radial formula: D. 87: A. 07; C. 8+7: P. 11 sinistral and !> dextral; V. 5; scales 

 13-57-22. 



Cidor, eyed side, grayish brown; blind side, somewhat clouded with darker shade. 



The width of the interorbital space in the type exceeded the diameter of the eye. In 

 .-.ome smaller ones the space is about equal to the length of the eye. while in still younger 

 ones it is Less than the diameter of the eye. 



'fhc type (Cat. No. 30180, U. S. X. M.) was obtained by Silas Stearns, at Pensacola, 

 Fla. Specimens were taken by the Blake from station ccix, in 24° 43' X. lat., 83° 25' W. 

 Ion., at a depth of ;i7 fathoms; from station < lxyii, in 24° 40' X. lat., 83° 16' W. Ion., at a 

 depth of :!li fathoms; from station XX, off Flannegan's Passage, in 27 fathoms; from station 

 c\iu, in 23° 13' X. lat., 84° 10' \V. Ion., at a depth of 84 fathoms; from station CCLH,-on 

 the Alacran Shoals, in 35 fathoms; also by the Albatross from station 2.')87, in 29° 24' X. 

 hit,, 88° 04' W. Ion., at a depth of 32 fathoms; from station 2388, in 29° 24' 30" K lat, 88 

 01' \V. Ion., at a depth of 35 fathoms; from station 2403, in 28° 12' 30" X. int.. 85 29' W. 

 Ion., at a depth of 88 fathoms; from station 2411, in 26° 33' 30" X. lat, 83° 15' .ill" W. Ion., 

 at a depth of 27 fathoms; from station 2413, in 20 00' X. lat. 82° 57' 30" W. Ion., at a 

 depth of 21 fathoms; from station 2405. in 28° 45' X. lat., 85° 02' W. Ion., at a depth of 30 

 fathoms; from station 2414, in 25° 04' 30" X. lat., 82° .V.I' 15" W. Ion., at a depth of 26 

 fathoms: from station 2400, in 28° 10' X. lat.. 84 19' W. Ion., at a depth of 20 fathoms; 

 and from station 2408, in 28° 28' X. hit., 84° 25' W. Ion., at a depth of 21 fathoms. 



ETROPUS, Jordan and Gilbert. 



Etroput, Jordan and Gilbert, Proc U. S. Nat. Mus., 1881, 364; Bull, \\ i. I'. S. N. M., 1883, 839. 



Byes and color on the left side. Body regularly oval, deep, and compressed, lb.nl 



small; mouth very small, the teeth close set, slender and pointed, somewhat incurved, 



mostly on the blind side: no teeth on vomer. Eyes small, separated by a narrow, scaleless 



ridge: margin of preopercle free. Ventrals free from anal, that of colored side inserted on 



19868— No. 2 29 



