492 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [July, 



similar and nearly straight. Snout long, pointed, and its tip, while ex- 

 tended beyond tip of mandible, produced into a trifid fleshy rostral 

 flap, which is perfectly smooth below and about equal to horizontal 

 orbital diameter. Eye small, high, anterior or much nearer tip of 

 rostral appendage than posterior edge of opercle, and a little longer than 

 deep. A small sharp spine directed backward in front of eye below on 

 preorbital region. Maxillary reaching till opposite anterior margin of 

 posterior nostril. Mouth small, narrow, inferior and mandible narrow. 

 Lips rather thin. Teeth rather large, conic, directed somewhat back- 

 ward, and in rather broad approximated bands in jaws. No teeth on 

 roof of mouth or on tongue. Buccal folds Inroad. Tongue little free 

 and rather narrow. Anterior nostril in each short lateral tip or fleshy 

 tube of rostral appendage. Posterior nostril an elongate slit directly in 

 front of eye and about equal to diameter of pupil. Interorbital space 

 narrow and convex. 



Gill-opening inferior, forming a narrow triangle on chest below and 

 extending forward for about last |- of entire length of head. Rakers 

 absent. Filaments short, about equal to vertical diameter of pupil. 

 No pseud obranchiae. Isthmus short and narrowly compressed. 



Scales close together, elongate, with more or less scalloped edges 

 in places, in obliciue crossing series, and adherent. Present on most 

 all of body except pectoral, margins of other fins, snout, jaws, rostral 

 appendage and branchiostegal region. Scales at base of pectoral and 

 on other fins reduced in size. Lateral line rather high, continuous, 

 only becoming median on posterior portion of tail or trunk and of sim- 

 ple tubes. 



Vertical fins entirely continuous. Spinous dorsal a little longer than 

 rayed dorsal, though at first low at its origin which is a little behind tip 

 of pectoral, and then increasing gradually in height a short distance 

 when spines become more or less subequal, and last spine highest. Soft 

 dorsal inserted at a point about last f in total length of body. Rayed 

 anal similar in height, and both fins joined to pointed caudal so that it 

 ends in a point with median rays longest. Origin of rayed anal well in 

 advance of that of soft dorsal or at a point, about .jiiid way between tip of 

 pectoral and base of caudal. Anal spines strong, second much larger. 

 Pectoral small, rounded, rather broad, low and median rays longest. 

 Vent close in front of spinous anal. 



Color in alcohol with ground-color more or less uniform brownish, 

 a trifle paler or soiled brownish on lower surface of head and abdomen. 

 Body most everywhere beautifully variegated with darker mottlings 

 wliich form pale spots or blotches of variable size and pattern. On 



