196 



CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



illary lying behind it. The teeth are strong and conic, with rather acute tips; those in 

 the mandible are in two rows anteriorly which narrow to a single series laterally; those 

 in upper jaw apparently in a single series. 



346. Cerdale ionthas Jordan 



Plate XXXI, Fig. 58. 



Gilbert. 



Eighteen sjiecimens were secured on the Panama reef. The genus Cerdale 

 was described as differing from Microdesmus in having two rays in the ventral fin, 

 but this was due to an error in observation. As in Microdesmus, the ventral fin 

 contains one spine and three rays. The two genera seem to differ only in the 

 much shorter body and fewer vertebra; in Cerdale. The vertebrae are 20-|-23 in 

 number in addition to the hypural element. One hfemal spine assists the hypural in 

 supporting the caudal fin. 



The dorsal fin contains 12 slender spines and 30 to 32 branched articulate 

 rays. The anal contains 27 to 29 branched rays (by error given 36 to 38 rays, 

 instead of 26 to 28, in the original descrijition and subsequently). 



Following are the fin-counts in twelve specimens: 



Dorsal.. 

 Anal... 



The pectoral fin contains fourteen rays. 



The 250st-temporal is forked, and rather firmly joined to the skull. The supra- 

 clavicle is apparently absent. The actinosts are thin, flat, and very large, the three 

 uppermost joining the hypercoracoid, the lower one joining the hypocoracoid. The 

 opercular bones are all present. 



The front of the mouth is formed by the premaxillaries only. The maxillaries 

 are slender and much curved. The teeth are small and conic in both jaws, uniserial 

 in the premaxillaries, biserial in front of mandible becoming uniserial laterally. No 

 teeth on vomer or palatines. 



The branchiostegal rays are five in number. 



The restricted gill-openings can scarcely suffice to distinguish a family Cerda- 

 lidte from the Blenniidse. 



Family OPHIDIID^. 



347. Lepophidium prorates {Jordan X- Bollman). 

 Known only from tyjie and co-types taken in Panama Bay. 



348. Otophidium indefatigabile Jordan tt- Bolhnann. 



Recorded from Albatross Station 2797, Panama Bay, 33 fathoms (Gilbert, 

 1890 6, p. 453). 



