ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 109 



pattern were blotches of olive-brown, yellowish and purple, but no rings. Fins 

 marked like the body, but paler. 



It is possible that the rings observed in the first one, and not seen in any 

 other, were caused by the growth of vegetable parasites, which are often found 

 on fish of similar habits. 



Remarks. — This is the first instance of a Myxodes being found on our coast 

 north of the equator, though a nearly allied genus, the Heterostichus, has been 

 long known. I was in some doubt whether to refer the fish to Myxodes on 

 account of the meagre descriptions of the genus accessible, but having sent a 

 copy of the outline to Mr. Gill, I have been confirmed in the correctness of the 

 diagnosis. The following are some of the most important generic characters 

 not shown in the outline of our species : 



Branchiae VI- VI, the apertures freely connected below. Teeth uniserial in 

 each jaw, those of lower jaw largest, some of those along sides larger than the 

 rest. No teeth on vomer. Scales minute, entire, cycloid, closely adherent — 

 none on head or fins. 



The two-lobed form of the spinous dorsal does not apparently exist in some 

 of the species. Suspecting that some of the other characters will be found 

 sufficient to distinguish it, I propose for it provisionally the name Gib- 

 bonsia, in honor of Dr. W. P. Gibbons, of Alameda County, whose descriptions 

 of our viviparous fishes, published in 1854, by the Academy, have only of late 

 been awarded the credit they deserve. 



These beautiful little fish are found at low water in holes among rocks along 

 our coast south of Point Conception, and at the adjoining islands. Their 

 varied and elegant coloration would make them beautiful objects for a marine 

 aquarium, but I had nothing suitable for the purpose, in which I could keep 

 them alive long enough to study their habits. 



I obtained three at Pt. Loma, San Diego, three at Catalina L, and two at 

 Santa Barbara I., all manifestly of the same species, though differing individ- 

 ually in color, as above mentioned. They have no popular name. 



GlLLICHTHYS, n. g.* 



Generic characters. — Form moderately elongated, laterally compressed. Head 

 depressed, broader than body, forming more than one-fourth of total length. 

 Eyes small, situated far forward, and obliquely turned upward. Mouth moder- 

 ate, its gape extending to the vertical of the posterior rim of orbit, but the 

 angle of lower jaw half way to branchial aperture. Upper maxillaries extend- 

 ing back the same distance, thence prolonged by a cartilaginous expansion 

 which reaches as far back as the opercular opening, and being there connected 

 to an expansion of the skin of the lower jaw, forms a channel running back from 

 the mouth and as long as the gape of the mouth itself. This channel is entirely 

 free from the side of head, but only slightly movable forwards, so that it can- 

 not serve to widen the mouth when opened. 



* Named in honor of Mr. Theodore Gill, of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington 

 D. C, the author of various learned treatises on fishes ; Ichthys, from the Greek for 

 fish. 



