1880. J NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 13 



ON THE PACIFIC SPECIES OF CAULOLATILUS. 

 BY W. N. LOCKINGTON, 



111 the Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., 1865, pp. 66-68, Dr. Gill 

 enumerates four species of his genus Gaulolatilus, one of them, 

 O. chrysops (Latilus c7i r j/sops, Val.) from the Atlantic, the others 

 from the Pacific Ocean. 



These species are ; G. anomalus (=Dekaya anomalus^ Cooper), 

 G. princeps (=Latilus princeps, Jenyns), and G. affinis, Gill. 

 The first and second of these are stated to differ in the proportion 

 between the length of the posterior dorsal spines and the distance 

 between the dorsal fin and the lateral line ; as well as in the length 

 of the pectoral ; while the third species (characterized from a 

 specimen about three inches long) is described as follows : " Pro- 

 file quadrant, in front almost vertical; Greatest height less than 

 four times (.21) in the length (exclusive of the caudal), that of 

 caudal peduncle about nine times. Head more than f\ of the 

 length, while its height is to its length as 22^ : 31. Diameter of 

 eye equal to almost ^ the height of the head. Preorbital very 

 narrow. Teeth of preoperculum strong and distant ; those of the 

 middle directed obliquely upwards. Sixth dorsal spine equal to 

 ^ of the length. Anus behind the middle of the length. Caudal 

 rather exceeding the height of the head. Pectorals equal to ^ of 

 the length. Yentrals shorter (.18) inserted beneath the base of 

 the pectoral, its spine at the vertical of the upper axil. D., vii, 

 25. A., ii, 22. P., 18. Color reddish brown on head and back, 

 lighter on the sides. A veiy distinct blackish spot above the 

 axilla of the pectoral. Locality, Cape St. Lucas." Dr. Gill 

 states his belief that the large eyes and the narrow preorbital are 

 characters of youth ; and, moreover, hints a doubt as to the spe- 

 cific identity of G. princeps^ and G. anomalus, but thinks it 

 scarcely probable on account of the few species known to be 

 common to Lower California and the Galapagos, the localities 

 from which the types of G. anomalus and G. princeps were re- 

 spectively procured. 



As I have lately obtained tM'o individuals of a species of Gaulo- 

 latilus in the markets of San Francisco, I contribute a tolerably 

 full description, embodying the characters of the two (which 

 e\'idently belong to the same species) and notes upon the 

 peculiarities of each. The difference in some of the proportions 



