1899.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 495 



8 or 10 in each jaw. Lower augle of the praoperculum auteiior to 

 the eye, aud the operculum with striatious. Scapular girdle ex- 

 posed and with striatious. Origin of the P. on a level with the 

 mouth, and the caudal spine, anterior to that of the D,, and 

 behind the branchial aperture. P. ii, 14, not reaching beyond 

 the tips of the V., though they exceed the latter in length and 

 also extend beyond the origin of the A. V, i, 5, its origin poste- 

 rior to that of the P. and its first soft ray the longest, expanded 

 and produced into a filament-like point. D. ix, 30 or 31, the 

 spines graduated to the eighth and ninth, which are the longest 

 and of more or less equal height with the soft rays. A. iii, 

 27 (?) or 28, the spines and anterior soft rays graduated and 

 then even, like the soft D. Caudal triangular, with developed 

 rudimentary rays, the true radii 16 in number; several of the 

 upper and lower rays are produced into long sharp points, which 

 project beyond the margins of the other caudal radii for a distance 

 equal to the width of a naked postero-lateral space on trunk. 

 This space, Avhich is deeply ovoid, includes in its apical portion 

 the keeled spine of the caudal peduncle, which is furnished with a 

 groove in the body, aud also with its posterior portion produced 

 into a small backward projecting point. Scales of the body very 

 small, those upon the thoracic i-egion especially so. Lateral line 

 distinct, superior and crossing the upper part of the wide lateral 

 space to the base of the caudal. General color blackish, cheeks 

 light and with wavy stripes. Naked lateral space and basal por- 

 tion of posterior D. and A. rays, which latter are in the form of 

 narrow bands, slightly increasing in width upon the last i*ays, at 

 present brownish. Caudal with a broad basal black band and the 

 space between this and a black posterior bar which becomes 

 attenuated above and below, and extends upon the produced rays 

 for about half their distance when they run back and join the 

 basal black band, brownish. This pattern on the tail is the same 

 shape as the tail itself, only smaller and leaving a margin all 

 around, which is broad medianly, and of a whitish color. Eyes 

 reddish. Four specimens, the largest of which measures 9^ inches. 

 Nos. 23,302, 23,303, 23,304 and 23,305. 



