ACADEMY OF NATTJKAL SCIENCES. 75 



In the winter of 1861-2, 1 caught several in San Diego Bay, which bit freely 

 at the usual baits. I did not hear any peculiar name applied, but they are 

 confounded with " Perch," which they little resemble. Also found at San 

 Pedro. 



A larger one, taken in a net at Santa Barbara Island, in May, 18G3, has the 

 different characters supposed to indicate an older fish, and is much fatter ; its 

 head is also shorter in proportion, but as I find a similar difference in specimens 

 of Girella nigricans Ayres, as well as in the Labroids before mentioned, I must 

 consider these as sexual differences, or in part depending on age and condition. 

 They do not differ more than some specimens of Embiotoca jacksoni from each 

 other, and agree closely in the number of spines and rays of their fins. 



Orcynus, Cuvier, 1819. 

 Orcynus pacificus, Cooper, n. sp., State collection, species 1033. [Fig. 19.] 



Specific characters. — General profile elliptical, height of body nearly one- 

 quarter its length, breadth about half the height. 



Head laterally compressed, somewhat flattened on top, the nose horizontally 

 rounded, but laterally pointed. Base of tail vertically compressed, one-third 

 broader than it is high. Head half the length of body, its height behind orbit 

 equal to half its length. Diameter of orbit one-sixth the length of head, its 

 form obliquely oval. Jaws equal, gape of mouth one-third the length of head. 



Pectoral fin, arising at middle of vertical of side, nearly half the total length, 

 its width at base one-eighth of its length, but suddenly narrowing to one- 

 fifteenth, which width it retains nearly to the end, its outer third curving gradu- 

 ally downward, and becoming pointed. First dorsal commencing directly above 

 pectoral, its length nearly one-fourth of total length, and its height in front two- 

 fifths of its length. Spines rapidly decreasing in length from the first to the 

 eighth, the next six about equal, and a third of the first, the last one very short. 

 Second dorsal immediately behind the first and a little higher, triangular, nearly 

 one-third higher than long, its base lengthened posteriorly, and one-third the 

 length of the first dorsal. Finlets eight above and eight below, acutely triangu- 

 lar, those near the middle a little larger. 



Caudal large, its lobes equal, their length three times their width, and one- 

 third that of the pectoral ; posterior outline arcuately concave, with slightly wid- 

 ened lobes near the middle. 



Anal opposite end of second dorsal, similar to it in form, but smaller, and 

 about twice as high as long, its position half way between the ventrals and 

 caudal. Its first spine is only about one-third as long as the second, which is 

 two-thirds the height of fin ; both concealed by the skiu. 



Ventrals arising opposite second dorsal spine, about twice as high as wide, 

 their inner margin with a small pointed lobe. 



Cartilaginous ridge on side of caudal peduuele moderate, highest anteriorly, 

 its length half that of caudal lobe. Two slight oblique ridges behind the median 

 ridge. 



Lateral line imperceptible in front of fourth dorsal spine, parallel with out- 

 line of back. No scales on head. Thoracic corselet of very large consolidated 



