1880.J NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 235 



Anal longer than soft dorsal, arising opposite the last spine of 

 the first dorsal, and terminating somewhat posterior to the second, 

 Ninth to twelfth raj's slightly the longest. 



Pectorals very broad and rounded, their base oblique, the tip of 

 the longest (sixth) ray reaching to about the sixteenth dorsal 

 raj- ; rays simple, the longest a little less than one-fourth the total 

 length of the fish. 



Tentrals small, narrow, the longest (middle) ray rather more 

 than half the length of the longest pectoral ray, but not reaching 

 to the vent. 



Caudal truncate on hinder margin, rather narrow, ra3's simple. 



Yent midway between insertion of ventrals and origin of anal. 



Lateral line with a series of skinny fimbriated flaps, similar to 

 those upon the head. 



Body and head scaleless, but the former covered all over with 

 osseous papillre ; largest above the lateral line, smallest upon the 

 protuberant portion of the abdomen. 



Color, in alcohol, blotches of dark purplish-brown on a lighter 

 ground ; the blotches on the fins conspicuous, and running into 

 transverse bars on the pectorals. Abdomen, light dirtj'-brown. 



A single specimen of this interesting species was obtained by 

 Mr. W. J. Fisher, at St. Paul's, Kodiak. It is in the museum of 

 the California Academy of Sciences. 



Hemitripterus cavifrons is the western representative of H. 

 acadianiis of the Atlantic, and differs from that species in the 

 following characteristics, among others : — 



The great depression of the inter-ocular area, whence the specific 

 name ; the greater number of dorsal spines ; the shorter pectorals ; 

 the lesser depth of the posterior anal rays; the absence of hook- 

 like papillae along the lateral line, and the presence in their place 

 of fleshy slips ; and the smaller size of the bony papillae along 

 the dorsal region. 



Dimensions. 



Total length, 15.15 



Greatest depth, 4.50 



Least depth of caudal peduncle, 92 



Length of head, 4.50 



Width " 4.50 



" of mouth, from tip to tip of maxillaries, . 3.75 

 Length of upper jaw along its curve, . . . 2.75 



