Cope] "V [Jan. 17. 



Alaska as food-fishes, though on this point we must look for more 

 information. 



Ammodytidce. 



This family differs from both the Gadidce and Ophidiidm in the dipJiy- 

 cercal tail with modified haemal spines and centra; the scapular foramen 

 is central. 



Ammodytes alascanus. Cope, sp. nov. 



Depth of body one-half length of head, entering nine and three-fifths 

 times the total length, including caudal fin. Eye one-sixth of length of 

 head, 2.2 times in head in front of it. Head 5.5 times in total length, 

 Mandible elongate anal, quite prominent, less than depth of body. 

 Dorsal radii, 62; and 31; former originating above middle of pectoral. 

 Sides with the usual oblique dermal folds, 182 in number. A single 

 latero-ventral dermal fold on each side. End of maxillary extending to 

 line of front margin of orbit. Br. VII. 



Length, six inches; above brown; middle of sides steel-blue; below 



silvery. 



Gadidce. 



Gadus periscopus. Cope, sp. nov. 



The lower jaw a little longer than the upper, and the external teeth a 

 little larger than the others in the latter. Vomerine teeth in a very small 

 median patch with two larger oval patches, one on each side. Beard min- 

 ute, not longer than half the diameter of the pupil of the eye. Profile of 

 front obliquely descending from the elevated base of the dorsal fin. 

 Eye large, 4.5 times in head, 1.5 in muzzle, and 1.2 in interorbHal width. 

 Radii, D. 13, 14, 19; A. 19, 19; ventrals with a short filamentous 

 extremity; caudal fin a little concave. Vent below the space between 

 the first and second dorsals. Head 4.33 times in total length; depth 5.33 

 times in the same. End maxillary to middle of pupil; pectoral fin to 

 opposite last ray of first dorsal. Scales small, lateral line descending at 

 front of second dorsal. 



Length of type specimen, sixteen inches. 



Color yellowish above, white below; superior fins and caudal dusky: 

 pectoral dusky or black on the posterior face. 



This cod-fish belongs to the section Pollachius, and is therefore quite 

 distinct from the G. vachna of Pallas, of the Kamtchatkan Seas. It is 

 also different in many respects from the G. pygmems of the same author, 

 from near Cape Saint Elias. 



Gadus aurattjs. Cope, sp. nov. 



Upper jaw overhanging the lower; the external teeth a little the larg- 

 est. Vomerine teeth in a single patch. Beard as long as the diameter 

 of the eye. This is one-fifth the length of the head, and enters the 

 interorbital width one and a half times. The profile descends very 

 gradually, for the dorsal region is not elevated. End of maxilla opposite 

 to the middle of the pupil. Length of head, 3.6 times in the total; depth 

 of body four and two-third times in total length. A small acumination 

 at the upper part of the opercular bone. Radii, Br. VII; D. 13,16,16; 



