NO. 6 MYERS AND WADE: NEW WEST COAST FISHES 167 



Reid's figures, the pectoral fin of reidi is set lower than in those two 

 species. Moreover, the dorsal origin in reidi is more posterior than in 

 intermedius and the fin-ray counts differ sharply. On the other hand, 

 hildcbrandi, which seems closer to reidi, has a more slender form and a 

 considerably shorter abdominal and longer tail region. 



Microdesmus bilineatus (Clark, 1936, p. 394) from the Galapagos, 

 was described too late to be mentioned in Reid's revision except in a foot- 

 note. It has D. 47 and A. 28, which counts seem to bring it near reidi, 

 but the depth is 10.1 in standard length and the head 7. The gill opening 

 is said to be "a small pore before base of pectorals." If this fish is a 

 Microdesmus, it would appear to be similar to the short-bodied ionthas, 

 and to have nothing to do with reidi. 



Notes. — The unique type of reidi was obtained in a small, open, sandy 

 tide pool not over a foot deep. The senior author had poisoned this pool 

 and believed he had gotten all the fishes from it, at least all that had not 

 been snatched up by his collecting companion — a fearless and persistent 

 little Galapagos rail who closely followed the collector and the "poison- 

 ing" operations from pool to pool and derived great benefit from the 

 resulting miraculous draught of fishes. However, upon finishing the 

 work, a last look was given all the pools and this solitary Microdesmus 

 was seen swimming rapidly about in one of them. The live fish was a 

 clear, very translucent, yellowish gray, the only real color being the pink 

 belly. 



Our figure of this fish is not accurate in some details. The pelvics are 

 under the gill-openings, not behind them; the number of fin rays is not 

 quite accurate; and the apparent freedom of the anal from the caudal fin 

 is an artifact caused by breakage of the fin. The general appearance is 

 correctly portrayed. 



We take great pleasure in dedicating this fish to Earl D. Reid, U. S. 

 Marine Corps, retired, who has recently also retired from a subsequent 

 long period of useful, conscientious, and interested service as Scientific 

 Aid in the Division of Fishes of the U. S. National Museum. It is to him 

 that we owe thanks for a very helpful revision of these small and obscure 

 little fishes. 



