DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 257 



which is on the nape, the second at the beginning of the spinous dorsal, the third under the 

 fourtli spine of tlie dorsal, the fourth beginning under the seventh spine of the dorsal, the 

 fifth at the origin of the soft dorsal, and the sixth near the end of the soft dorsal. The 

 largest of these blotches is about two-thirds as long as the eye. Soft dorsal with numerous 

 roundish dark blotches on tlic skin covering tlie rays. Gaiulal marked like the soft dorsal, 

 other tins pale. In life the species was probably roseate. 



The type of the description is an individual measuring 119 millimeters to base of 

 caudal. Catalogue naniber, 39.325; from station 2298, Albatross, N. hit. 3.50 39', W. Ion. 74° 

 52', 80 lathoins. 



This species is closely related to P. canariensis, but may be distinguished by the 

 greater number of scales in the lateral line, by the shorter pectorals, the ventrals, which 

 when extended reacli to the line of the vent only, by the more advanced position of the 

 anal, the termination of whose base is under the base of the autei)euultimatc dorsal ray; 

 by the greater length of the second anal spine, which is longer than the third, and nearly 

 three times as long as the tirst; by the character of the suborbital crest, which is high and 

 sharp and has its surface notched into three portions, so that it appears to be composed of 

 three long depressed spines; by the presence of lacini;e in the occipital region; by the 

 more advanced position of the pectoral, whose base is almost hidden under the branchios- 

 tegal membrane, its anterior spine? being close to the edge of the opercular flap. 



The contour of the dorsal is much the same, save that the spines are more slender and 

 the notch less deep, the eleventh spine being equal to the tenth, and not much shorter than 

 the ninth. 



PontiiiHs Bathbuni is dedicated to Mr. Eichard Rathbun, chief of the Division of Scien- 

 tific Inquiry in the U. S. Fish Commission, in recognition of his important contributions to 

 marine zoology. 



PONTINUS MACROLEPIS, Goode and Bean, d. s. (Figure 247.) 



A Pontinns hnviug pectoral rays all simple as in P. hnuiispinis, P. KkIiIU, and P. castor, 

 and lai'ger scaled than either of those. We have compared it with Pontiitxs castor of Poey, 

 and while it belongs to the same genus it is a much larger scaled species than Poey's and 

 the supraoccipital filaments are much less developed. The greatest depth of the body (.30 

 millimeters) is about one-third of the standard length; the least height of the tail (8 milli- 

 meters) equals the length of the snout. The length of the head (41 millimeters) is equal to 

 one-half the total length to the end of the dorsal. Tlie greatest width of the head (21 milli- 

 meters) is about one- half its greatest length. Tlie width of the interorbital area (4 milli- 

 meters) is about one-half the length of the snout. The interorbital region is deeply concave 

 and scaleless; top of snout also scaleless. The length of the eye (13i millimeters) is about 

 one third the length of the head. The length of the postorbital part of the liead to the end 

 of the opercular flap (19 millimeters) equals one-half the distance from the tip of the snout 

 to the origin of the spinous dorsal. The maxilla I'eaches beyond the vertical from the 

 middle of the eye and the mandible to below the end of the eye. The length of the maxilla 

 (20 millimeters) is one-half the length of the head. The length of the mandil)le (21 milli 

 meters) equals the length of the ventral. Four rudiments and 2 developed gill rakers 

 above the angle; 9 developed below the angle. The-developed gill-rakers have alittleknob 

 at the end. Teeth in villiform bands in the Jaws and on the vomer and palatine bones. A 

 naked space at the symphysis of the intermaxillary i)ieces into which is received a projecting 

 spur at the tip of the mandibles, mandible with a slight knob below and with three large 

 pores along the middle of its surface. Psendobianchiw well develoiied. 



A pair of spines between the nostrils, a pair at the top of the orbit in front, a pair of 

 supraoccipitals continued backward by two additional pairs on the vertex, two pairs on 

 the nape. A tympanic spine. A pair of humeral spines. Two stout, flat spines on the pre- 

 opercle, 4 on the preopercnlum, of whicli the up])erniostis the largest and the third is larger 

 than the second and fourth. The uppermost, also, has a supplementary small spine at its 

 base. Sub orbital carina consisting of 3 spines, 2 on the preorbital, both of which bend 

 19808— No. 2 17 



