596 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 28 



aa. [nterorbital space flat or slightly concave, of medium width, meseth- 

 iiinid processes but little or uot at all elevated, ventral process of 

 baeisphenoid rudimentary. Cranial ridges and spines moderately 

 strong. Lower jaw usually not much, sometimes not at all, project- 

 ing; gill-rakers usually long and slender; A. Ill, 6, to III, 8. Deep 

 water fishes. 

 s. Base of skull strongly curved, supraocular spine absent, 

 t. Parietal bones not meeting. Olivaceous above, silvery below. Head 

 2j to 2|; D. XIII-12 or 13; A. Ill, 7; lat. 1. 45 (pores). Maxillary 

 in ally reaching posterior margin of pupil, 1\ in head; lower jaw 

 somewhat projecting, with a conspicuous knob. Scales rough- 

 ctenoid, present on maxillary, mandible and snout. Second anal 

 spine longer and stronger than third, 2 to 1\ in head. Peritoneum 

 black. Santa Barbara Islands. saxicola.* 



tt. Parietal bones meeting. Uniform rose-red above, bright silvery 

 below. Head 2i; depth 2$. D. XIII-12 or 13; A. Ill, 7; lat. 1. 

 35 (tubes). Maxillary reaching beyond middle of pupil, 2| in 

 head; premaxillaries with prominent dentigerous knobs, between 

 which the tip of lower jaw fits. Eye 3 to 3£ in head; inlerorbital 

 space If in orbit. Scales large, minutely spinous, readily de- 

 ciduous; very small and cycloid on maxillary, mandible and breast. 

 Second anal spine longer and stronger than third, 2k to 3 in head. 

 Peritoneum jet black. Coronado Islands. diploproaA 



ss. Base of skull nearly straight; supraocular spine present, quite 

 strong. Coronal and nuchal spines usually present (except in mr- 

 lanostomus). 

 u. Second anal spine much longer and stronger than third, 2£ in 

 head. A. Ill, 6; head 2|; depth 2|. D. XIII-13 or 14; lat. 1. 29 

 (pores). Maxillary nearly reaching posterior margin of orbit, 2£ 

 in head; mandible included. Eye large, 3£ in head, much longer 

 than snout or interorbital space. Scales everywhere very rough- 

 ctenoid, covering brauchiostegal rays, mandible and maxillary. 

 Uniform red, light below. Peritoneum black. Santa Barbara 

 Islands. aurora. X 



nu. Second anal spine little or not at all longer than third. A. Ill, 7. 

 v. Lower jaw projecting; longest dorsal spine 3£ or more in head; 

 mouth and gill cavities black, 

 w. Anal spines graduated. Head 3£ in total length; depth about 

 3. D. XIII-KU; A. Ill, 7i; lat. 1. 43. Body short, deep. 

 Maxillary reaching posterior border of pupil; lower jaw pro- 



Sebastichlhys saxicola Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 7S, 1890. 

 astichthys diploproa Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 79, 1890. 

 astichthyn aurora Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 80, 1890. 



