66 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA 



Ophisurus Lac. 

 Ophisurus Californiensis Garrett. 



This Ophisurus is more robust than usual in species of this genus. The head 

 is large, swollen beneath, and comprises about one-twelfth of the entire length. 

 The depth, taken at the origin of the anal fin, enters about twenty-eight times 

 in the total length, or twice in the length of the head. The pectorals are large, 

 elliptical in shape, their tips reaching posteriorly nearly as far as the origin of 

 the dorsal fin. The dorsal and anal fins are well developed, the latter passing 

 over a base considerably more than half the length of the fish. 



The color in spirits is brown, paler on the lower half of the head, and 

 cinereous along the throat and belly. A dorsal row of large, roundish, brown- 

 ish-black spots extends from the occipital region to the end of the tail ; the 

 spots being intersected by the fin, and the two anterior ones are saddle shaped. 

 A second row, disposed alternately to the first, occupies the upper half of the 

 flanks. The head is irregularly maculated, the spots becoming paler beneath. 

 The fins are light, brownish-grey ; the dorsal and anal with a narrow darker 

 margin, which is articulated with dark brown. 



Length, 19)^ inches. 



Habitat, Lower California. 



Kemarks. — The specimen described above, was captured at Margarita Bay, 

 by Mr. White, of the whaler Rambler, to whom I am indebted for a valuable 

 collection of objects of natural history. 



Dr. Ayres remarked that he had recently received from Tomales 

 Bay specimens of an ichthyic type, new to this coast, and probably 

 new to science. The species is closely allied to Scomber esox, though 

 the jaws are but moderately elongated. It is judged worthy of re- 

 cord, even previous to any description, since no fish of that group 

 has hitherto been found in the waters of California. The specimens 

 exhibited to the Academy were from five to eight inches in length. 

 He also gave notice of the acquisition of a specimen of Thrasher, 

 taken in the Bay of San Francisco. The species is a very close 

 representative of the Atlantic form Alopias vulpes, differing, how- 

 ever, in the proportions of the dorsal and anal fins, and in the posi- 

 tion of the branchial apertures ; the tail constitutes decidedly more 

 than half of the entire length. The specimen is about five feet in 

 length. 



Dr. Ayres presented a specimen of Barnacles, found floating at 

 sea in lat. 33° 8' N., Ion. 129° 35' W., by Capt. Geo. Goodrum of 

 San Francisco. They were of the Anatifa type, but exhibited the 

 remarkable feature of being attached, not to some extraneous sub- 



