Fishes of the Western North Atlantic 65 



on most of the older teeth, perhaps as the result of wear; eight to ten rows in function 

 simultaneously in upper jaw and seven to nine in lower in large specimens. 



First and second dorsals approximately equal in size, triangular, with their cor- 

 ners abruptly rounded, their anterior and posterior margins nearly straight and the 

 latter approximately vertical, the free rear corners a little less than half as long as the 

 base; origin of first dorsal posterior to tips of pelvics by a distance about equal to 

 breadth of mouth or to extreme length of first dorsal from origin to rear corner. Inter- 

 space between dorsals about twice as long as base of first dorsal. Interspace between 

 rear end of base of second dorsal and upper origin of caudal about 1.3 times as long 

 as base of second dorsal. Caudal with upper origin a little anterior to lower; its upper 

 margin weakly convex, about 1.3 times as long as interspace between dorsals, its axis 

 only slightly raised (perhaps horizontal in some cases); its lower posterior contour well 

 rounded without distinct lower lobe; its height above extremity of axis about as great 

 as its depth below latter. Pelvics with weakly convex or nearly straight anterior (outer) 

 margins, nearly straight inner margins, and weakly convex distal margins; the outer 

 corners moderately rounded, forming an angle of about 130-135°; the posterior 

 corners abruptly rounded, the tips much more slender in adult males than in females 

 or in young males; extreme length of pelvics from origin to rear tip about 1.9-2.0 

 times as great as distance from origin of pelvics to axil ; their axils separated by a dis- 

 tance about equal to breadth of mouth. 



Rostral cartilage nearly uniform in breadth throughout most of its length but widening 

 noticeably in somewhat rounded outline toward tip, its maximum breadth there about 

 1.3 times as great as distance between inner ends of nostrils, its ridges close together 

 and approximated at tip. Anterior rays of pectorals extending anterior to nasal capsules 

 of cranium by a distance about half as great as distance between nostrils. 



Color. Ashy gray to olive brown or chocolate brown above, the area on either side 

 of rostral cartilage pale (probably translucent in life); edges of pectorals paler than 

 general ground tint but with a slightly darker band inward from margin; pelvics pale 

 or whitish-edged, distinctly so in young; dorsals and caudal not noticeably darker. 

 Typically, the entire upper surface of the disc rearward from the orbits (including 

 posterior half of rostral ridges) is thickly freckled with several hundred small whitish 

 dots, as is the upper surface of the tail; there are a few dots on the pelvics but none 

 on the dorsals or caudal. But we have seen one Texas specimen with only a few pale 

 dots and 12 others without any pale markings though agreeing with R. lentiginosus in 

 other aspects. Lower surface usually pale yellow or yellowish white or plain white, the 

 fins slightly darker than trunk, a V-shaped dusky or dark gray area below snout per- 

 sisting throughout growth in some specimens but becoming diffuse in others; some 

 specimens almost as dark in general over lower surface as above.*' The color pattern 

 of pale-spotted specimens is described as distinct in the young before birth. ^^ 



Relationship to Extralimital Species. R. lentiginosus is separable from all members 



49. Three of the unspotted Texas specimens we have seen are dark below, the others clear white. 



50. Jordan and Gilbert, Proc. U.S. nat. Mus., 5, 1883: 582. 



