ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. Ill 



Premaxillaries not protractile, movable at their symphysis, and only half as 

 long as maxillaries, with which they are connected by a thin membrane, ending 

 below orbit. 



Villiform teeth on premaxillaries throughout, also on lower maxillaries to 

 angle of mouth, and on pharyngeals ; none on upper maxillaries, vomer or 

 palate. A minute nasal aperature close behind maxillary and another opening 

 just in front of anterior rim of orbit. 



Preoperculum covered by the skin of the head. 



Branchias four, all double, and free, opercular apertures small, as wide as 

 base of pectorals, and separated by the whole width of the base of head. 



Tongue broad and thick. Air-bladder small, liver very large aud alimentary 

 canal short. 



Scales small, cycloid and thin, imbedded in the skin so as to be scarcely per- 

 ceptible anterior to dorsal fin, or on back. None on ventral surface. 



No lateral line perceptible. Dorsal fins two, situated far back, and rather 

 large. Caudal small, obtusely rounded. Anal opposite to second dorsal. Ven- 

 trals united into a funnel-shaped disk opposite base of pectorals. Pectorals 

 large and rounded. Fin rays all soft, dividing into three or four branches 

 toward their ends. A small " papilla genitalis " in front of anal fin. 



Whole fish covered with thick mucous secretion. Skin of head rather loose 

 and soft, and perfectly smooth. 



Gillichthys mirabilis Cooper, State Coll. No. 627. [Fig. 24.] 



Specific characters. Scales along middle of side, about 90 in 27 rows. 



D. 6-13 ; C. 13-13 ; A. 11 ; V. 6 -f 6 ; P. 20. 



Length of largest specimen obtained, 5| inches 100. 



Distance from snout to orbit 06 



Length of orbit 03 



Snout to end of maxillary process 26 



Snout to opercular aperture 27 



Snout to first dorsal fin 36 



Length of base of dorsal fin 15 



Height of dorsal fin 10 



From first to second dorsal 03 



Length of base of second dorsal 19 



Height of second dorsal 10 



Length of caudal 16 



Width of caudal 12 



From caudal to second dorsal and anal 10 



Length of base of anal 12 



Height of anal 06 



From ventral to anal 26 



Height of ventral anteriorly 02 



Height of ventral posteriorly 08 



Height of pectoral 14 



Width of base of pectoral 08 



Lower jaw to ventrals 27 



Width of head between orbits 02 



Width of head at opercula 15 



Height of head at opercula 16 



