28 



Teeth of nearly uniform size in all parts, slender, acute, hooked, 

 arranged in a double row on the sides of the jaws, more crowded in 

 front, as they are also on the vomer and palatines. 



Color plain greenish brown above, becoming lighter beneath ; fins 

 of corresponding hue. 



D. XXIII, 17, P. 17, A. Ill, 14, V. I, 5, C. 10, 1, 7, G, 1, 10. 



A. merlang-us appears to be quite rare, occurring in the markets of 

 San Francisco only as stragglers. The largest specimen yet observed 

 was eighteen inches in length. 



Stereolepis gigas, (Ayres). — This fish, with the general appearance 

 of the Sckenidce, and especially their peculiar fins, is yet separated 

 from that family by the teeth on the palatines and vomer. It is in 

 fact a Percoidy and not very remotely related to Dioplites. It is of a 

 new generic type, which may be called Stereolepis, Ayres. 



Generic Characters. — Scales small, very hard, ciliated, covering 

 the body, the cheeks, and the lower parts of the second dorsal, anal, 

 pectoral, and caudal fins. Two dorsals, remote ; the first with very 

 stout spinous rays, lower than the second ; the second with thick, fleshy 

 membrane. Anal similar to second dorsal. Ventrals beneath the 

 pectorals. Teeth exceedingly numerous, crowded, very fine, in both 

 jaws, and on the palatines and front of vomer. Operculum and preo- 

 perculum, without spines or serrations. Branchial apertures not con- 

 tinuous beneath. 



The species on which this genus is founded, is remarkable for the 

 great size which it attains. Two specimens have been brought into 

 the market, having been taken in the Bay of San Francisco, one in 

 1857, the other in 1859. The former measured five feet, eight inches 

 in length, with a weight of one hundred and eighty-seven pounds ; the 

 latter was seven feet long, and weighed three hundred and sixty 

 pounds. They were evidently stragglers in our waters. There is 

 reason to believe that below Point Conception they are found in some 

 numbers, becoming perhaps common on the coast of Lower California. 



Form compressed, robust ; greatest depth about one-third the total 

 length. Head large, forming one-fourth of the whole length. Mouth 

 quite large, but obli({ue, the maxillary only reaching a fine even with 

 the anterior border of the orbit. 



First dorsal of nine, very stout spines, its length equaling about one- 

 fourth of the length of the fish, its height one-fourth its len<i;th. 



Second dorsal not quite half so long as the first, from which it is 

 distant half its own length. Fin trapezoidal, sloping backward, thick- 

 ened at base ; scales ascending, membrane so thick that the rays are 

 enumerated with difficulty. 



