78 



Mouth of moderate dimensions, the tip of the maxillary reaching 

 a vertical line about even with the posterior border of the orbit ; 

 teeth, in both jaws somewhat numerous ; none on the vomer or pala- 

 tines ; no canines; crowded on the front of both jaws, the larger 

 ones being on the' posterior portion of this patch, and those of the 

 upper jaw larger than those of the lower ; on the side of the lower 

 jaw a row of teeth larger than any of those in front, with small ones 

 intermixed ; on the side of the upper jaw a double row of teeth 

 smaller than those in front. 



Nostrils anterior to the upper portion of the eye ; anterior one 

 the larger, vertically elliptical ; eye distant about twice its own 

 length from the anterior extremity of the head ; its length in the 

 adult being one-tenth of the length of the head ; in a fish of twenty- 

 four inches, one-seventh. 



Lateral line followhig nearly the curve of the back. 



Operculum ending in a flat, partially concealed spine ; the other 

 opercular pieces spineless ; branchial apertures separated by an isth- 

 mus ; branchial rays, seven. 



The distance of the first dorsal fin from the tip of the upper jaw, 

 is a little less than one-fourth the length of the fish ; its length is 

 not quite equal to that of the head ; the third and fourth rays are 

 the highest, their height nearly equalling half the length of the fin ; 

 from them the height diminishes to the last, which is about equal to 

 the first, or one-third as high as the third and fourth. The spines 

 are not very stout. 



The second dorsal, continuous from the termination of the first, 

 one-fourth as long as the fish, is highest in front, but not quite so 

 long as the first dorsal, diminishing regularly backward to less than 

 half the height. It is preceded by a spinous ray, higher than the 

 last one of the first dorsal. 



The length and anterior height of the anal fin are about equal, 

 being a little more than one-third of the length of the head ; its 

 height posteriorly is not quite half that of the first soft rays. 

 There are two spinous rays, the first very short, the second less 

 than half the height of the first soft ray, rather slender. 



The pectorals slender and pointed, have a height about equalling 

 one-seventh the length of the fish. 



The ventrals, arising posterior to the origin of the pectorals, have 

 a height a little less than half the length of the head. The first 

 ray is spinous, rather more than half as high as the first soft one. 



The caudal, somgwhat concave on the margin, is rather higher 

 in the external rays than the pectoral fin. 



D. X. I. 22, A. II. 9, P. 17, V. I. 5, C. 5, 1, 9, 8. 1. 5. 



Color grayish blue above, lighter on the sides, white beneath. 



This species is one of the finest of all that are brought to the 



