■DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AXD THKIR niSTRIBUTION. 449 



its width being contaiiieil 1 times in the length of the head. A [notiiincnt ridge extends 

 from the uppei- posterior margin of the lower eye to the lower ])osteri()r margin of the upper 

 eye, thence widening and cnrving downward to the nppcr angle of the branchial aperture. 

 The margin of the preopercnlum is also somewhat elevated. The length of the operculum 

 is very slightly greater than the width of the interorbital space. 



There are 11 short and thick gill rakers on the anterior arch, the, longest equal in length 

 to one-third the diameter of the eye. 



The dorsal fin begins on the blind side of the body in advance of the anterior margin of 

 the lower eye; its anterior rays are almost free, the longest rays behind its middle, its 

 greatest height equal to the length of the n])per Jaw. 



The anal is inserted under the anterior angle of the ])ectoral axilla. Its anterior rays 

 are less free than are those of the dorsal, about two-thirds of their length being extruded 

 from their membrane. Its outline similar to that of the dorsal, but greatest height some- 

 what less, being one-third the length of the head. 



The greatest length of the caudal equals the length of tiic head without the snout, and 

 one fifth of the body length. Its middle rays are somewhat longer than the outer rays, giv- 

 ing to the posterior margin the outline of an obtuse angle. 



The pectoral is inserted at the tip of the opercular Hap; its second and third rays nuich 

 produced in a filamentous extension. Its greatest length slightly exeeeds IJ times that of 

 the head. The [yectoral on the blind side has no prolonged rays; its greatest length equal- 

 ing that of the upper jaw. 



The ventral on the eyed side is inserted on the ridge of the abdomen slightly behind its 

 mate, which is a little removed from the medial line. 



Distance between insertion of the ventral and the snout equals one-fourth the length 

 of the body. The length of the ventral equals one third that of the head. Vent close to 

 the origin of anal, and slightly removed from the medial point of the body on the blind 

 side; beliind it a small jiajiilla, one-fourth as long as the eye. 



liadial fornuila: D. 87: A. 07; (l. S+7: P. 11 sinistral and !• dextral; V. 5; scales 

 13-57-22. 



Color, eyed side, grayish brown; blind side, somewhat clouded with darker shade. 



The width of the interorbital space in the tyjie exceeded the diameter of the eye. In 

 some smaller ones the space is about equal to the length of the eye. while in still younger 

 ones it is less than the diameter of the eye. 



The type (Cat. No. .'JO ISO, U. S. N.M.) was obtained by Silas Stearns, at Tensacola, 

 Fla. Specimens were taken by the Blake from station CCIX, in 21" 13' N. lat., 83° 25' W. 

 Ion., at a depth of 37 fathoms; from station clxvii, in 24° 46' N. lat., 83° 16' W. Ion., at a 

 depth of 30 fathoms; from station xx, off Flannegan's Passage, in 27 fathoms; from station 

 CXCii, in 23° 13' N. lat., 81'' 16' W. Ion., at a depth of 84 fathoms; from station ccLii,'on 

 the Alacran Shoals, in 35 fatlioms; also by the Albatross from station 2387, in 29° 24' N. 

 lat., SB'S 04' W. Ion., at a depth of 32 fathoms; from station 2388, in 29° 24' 30" N. lat., SSo 

 01' W. Ion., at a depth of 35 fatln)ms; from station 2403, in 28° 42' 30" N. lat., 85° 29' W. 

 Ion., at a depth of 88 fathoms; from station 2411, in 26° 33' 30" N. hit., 83° 15' 30" W. Ion., 

 at a, depth of 27 fathoms; from station 2413, in 26° 00' N. lat., 82° 57' 30" W. Ion., at a 

 depth of 24 fathoms; from station 2405, in 28° 45' N. lat., 85° 02' W. Ion., at a depth of 30 

 fathoms; from station 2414, in 25° 04' 30" N. lat., 82° 59' 15" W. Ion., at a depth of 26 

 fathoms; from station 2400, in 28-^ 40' N. lat., 84° 49' W. Ion., at a depth of 20 fathoms; 

 and from station 2408, in 28° 28' N. lat., 84° 25' W. Ion., at a depth of 21 fathoms. 



ETROPUS, Jordan and Gilbert. 



KIropiis, .ToKiiAX and (iir.BKRT, I'roc. U. S. Nat. Miis.. 1881, 364; Bull, xvi, U. S. N. M., 188,'?, 839. 



Eyes and color on the left side. Body regularly oval, deep, and compressed. Head 



small; mouth very small, the teeth close-set, slender and pointed, somewhat incurved, 



mostly on the blind side; no teeth on vomer. Eyes small, separated by a narrow, scaleless 



ridge; m.argin of preopercle free. Vcntrals free from anal, that of colored side inserted on 



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