i94i CATALOGUE OF FISHES OF TORTUGAS 



245 



Kathetostoma albigutta Bean 



Twelve specimens, 100 to 160 mm. long, were taken in 67 to 88 fathoms. 



In 3 specimens the counts are D. 14 or 14V2; A. 12 or 12%; P. 15 or 16, the 

 uppermost ray and the lowest one or two simple; lateral line converging sharply 

 upward toward dorsal and then concurrent with the dorsal base, turning down- 

 ward sharply there toward middle line of caudal peduncle; opercular margin 

 slightly fringed along its upper part. 



The very pale brown ground color is darkest immediately next to the borders 

 of the white spots on back and sides; dark spots on caudal variable in number, 

 but usually less than nine. W. H. L. 



The collection contains 4 specimens 108 to 135 mm. long. The general color in 

 preservative is grayish brown above; white underneath; numerous small white 

 spots, outlined with brown rings, between the bony rim of armature of head and 

 origin of dorsal; the white spots becoming much larger, and some of them de- 

 cidedly elongate, posterior to origin of dorsal; dorsal fin pale, with two or three 

 large black spots; caudal pale, with five to eight similar black spots; anal pale, 

 sometimes with a dusky spot on base of last rays; ventrals pale; pectorals pale at 

 base, then dusky, margin white. 



Subopercle with 5 recurved spines; humeral spine very long and strong; lower 

 jaw fringed; scales entirely wanting. 



The following proportions are based on 2 specimens, each 135 mm. long: 

 Head (measured to margin of upper jaw) 2.9, 3.15; depth 3.9, 4.0; anal base 2.8, 

 2.9; dorsal base 2.9, 3.0; pectoral 3.0, 3.2; ventral 4.3, 4.5. Eye in head 6.3, 6.9; 

 snout (to margin of upper jaw) 9.2, 9.4; interorbital 4.2, 5.0; maxillary 2.1, 2.1. 



Gulf of Mexico, in rather deep water. S. F. H. 



Family DACTYLOSCOPIDAE. Sand Stargazers 



Gillellus semicinctus Gilbert 



Seined occasionally on Long Key and Bird Key flats; also taken once in 4 

 fathoms on the bank of White Shoal. A very delicate form, usually surviving 

 capture only a short time. 



A fish of sandy bottom, bedding itself at once in sand in an aquarium, the 

 bedding being accomplished by swimming motions of the pectorals aided by 

 the undulation of the trunk, and particularly by that of the long anal fin, which 

 may be flexed so strongly as to pick up sand grains. It may bury itself till only 

 the eyes or even only one eye protrudes. There are cirri on the lower lip, and 

 dermal processes at the upper margin of the branchial clefts guarding the mouth 

 and gill openings. 



On a lighter ground are dark dorsal saddles in two series alternating with each 

 other and separated by wider interspaces of the ground color, one series extend- 

 ing farther down on the sides than the other. Neither within the dark dorsal 

 patches nor in the ground color is the pigmentation uniform, both, especially the 

 ground color, being mottled. 



There is a single rounded supraocular cirrus, and a row of eight papillae, 



