FISHES FROM BERING SEA AND KAMCHATKA. 63 



In four cotypes from the same station the dorsal has in each case 10 spines and either 16 or 17 

 rays, anal 18 in each case, pectoral 20. The interorbital space varies in width and in depth of curve, 

 its width in the four cotjpes being, respectively, 3.5, 4.2, 4.5, and 5 hundredths of the length. 



Sigmistes caulias Rutter. 



Three specimens of this little known and apparently rare species were obtained in the tide pools 

 of Agattu Island. It had been known hitherto only from the type locality", Karluk, Kodiak Island. 



Two of our specimens are very young, the smallest but 20 mm. long; the adult is 60 mm. long. 



Oxycottus acuticeps (Gilbert). 



Union Bay, Vancouver Island, and Unalaska, Atka, Agattu, and Attn Islands; found very 

 abundant in the tide pools at the north. 



This species differs from all its relatives in the structure of the anal papilla of the male, which 

 instead of tapering uniformly to a slender tip, maintains its width throughout and bears at its end a 

 pair of short lateral horns anteriorly and a median horn behind them. This should serve as generic 

 distinction between acutice/>s (the t\-pe of Oxycottus) and embryum, which has been associated with it. 

 In the structure of the anal papilla, embryum agrees with the species of Bknnicotlus, and is placed 

 in that genus. It differs widely, however, in the physiognomy, the snout and mouth parts, and may 

 merit further separation. 



Blennicottus embryum (Jordan & Starks). 



Abundant in the tide pools at Unalaska and Attn Islands. Two of our specimens have 16, and one 

 17 dorsal rays, two have 11 anal rays, and one has 10 dorsal spines. 



Blepsias cirrhosus (Pallas). 



Unalaska and Attn Islands and Avatcha Bay, Kamchatka. 



Numerous young from Kamchatka, 25 to 30 mm. in IcngtIi. The body is conspicuously banded 

 with blackish, the bands frequently united along middle of sides and occasionally in a line just above 

 base of anal; the bands run out on the dorsal fms, where they can usually be distinguished in adults. 

 The trunk is naked except for 5 distinct lengthwise series of prickles; a double series along lateral line; 

 a series near base of dorsal, terminating under soft dorsal near its posterior end; a similar series above 

 base of anal, which broadens anteriorly at sides of vent; two series on posterior half of trunk midway 

 between later-il line and the series already mentioned above and below it. The breast may be naked 

 or covered with prickles at this age. The barbels on snout and mandible vcrj- short. 



Nautichthys pribilovius (Jordan & Gilbert). 



Dorsal \aii or i.x-23 to 26, usually with 24 or 25 rays; anal 17 to 19; pectoral 15 or 16. Cirri present 

 on edge of preopercle and on suborbital stay; a pair of short thick tentacles near tip of snout, and 3 

 somewhat larger on margin of preorbital; in addition to the broad orbital flap are several delicate fila- 

 ments on upper posterior portion of eye; a ver>' long slender cirrus surmounts the supraorbital tubercle; 

 similar but shorter ones on occipital crests. 



The area immediately behind the pectorals is smooth and without prickles, as in Nauiichthy! ociilo- 

 fasciatus; prickles invest the rays of all fins except anal and ventrals and may sometimes occur on 

 these. 



The spinous dorsal is higher and rises more abruptly from the depressed nape than was true of the 

 type of the species; in adults its height frequently equals the length of the head. The principal differ- 

 ences alleged to separate Nauliscus from Nautichthys are the slightly shallower occipital pit, the lower 

 spinous dorsal (sometimes twice the length of head in Xaulichthys oculofasciatus) and the slightly shorter 

 dorsal and anal. These differences do not warrant generic distinction. 



