NO. 1114. PBOCEEBINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 413 



under the base of the anal than elsewhere. Least depth of peduncle 

 about 3 in depth of trunk. Head heavy, compressed, its greatest 

 width about li, its widtli at anterior rim of orbit 3, in its greatest 

 depth. Orbit large, circular, 2.Jj in head, for forward, its dorsal rim 

 nearly entering the profile. Interorbital space l)road, nearly flat, nar- 

 rower forward, its width above center of eye about 3 in head. Snout 

 steep, very short, bluntly rouiuled, its tip nearly on a level with 

 the lower edge of pupil. Nostrils on a level with center of eye, the 

 posterior much larger, close to the anterior rim of orbit. Mouth 

 oblique, the gape slightly curved, maxillary 1;} in head, reaching to 

 vertical from posterior rim of orbit. Narrow bands of villiform teeth 

 on jaws; minute asperities on vomer and palatines. Posterior edge of 

 preopercle nearly vertical. Opercle thin, its posterior margin rounded 

 with only a slight, blunt point. Gill rakers slender, about 2.^ in orbit, 

 about 17 on horizontal limb of first arch. Scales large, firm; their 

 edges strongly toothed, the teeth entirely absent or obsolescent on 

 scales of lateral line. Scales of lateral line and of the trunk below it 

 with the vertical diameter much greater than the horizontal. Large 

 scales on checks and opercles, 2 in a transverse series between lateral 

 line and origin of first dorsal. 



riioiopJiores. — Mandibulars 3 pairs, operculars 2, the lower one 

 small, opposite angle of jaws; pectorals 3, forming an isosceles tri- 

 angle with the apex directed backward, the upper spot a little above 

 and in front of base of pectoral, the middle one immediately under 

 base of pectoral, and the third nearly midway between this one and 

 the first thoraic spot; thoracic 5, nearly equidistant, the hindermost 

 in front of external end of base of ventral fin; supra vental 1, midway 

 between ventral fin and lateral line; ventrals 4, equidistant; supra- 

 anals 3, in a gently curved line, with the concavity forward, nearly 

 equidistant, the lowermost above the' hindermost ventral spot, the 

 uppermost immediately under lateral line; anterior anals S, equidis- 

 tant, in a nearly straight line; posterolateral 1, under lateral line and 

 above last supraaual spot; posterior anals 4, equidistant; caudals 2, 

 close together near ventral profile. Each of the spots surrounded by 

 a broad, black rim, but not divided into two halves by a black septum. 

 Distance from tip of snout to origin of dorsal 2f ; to root of ventrals 

 2|; from root of ventrals to origin of anal 0; base of anal 4; base or 

 dorsal to 7 in length of body. Pectoral fin a little below the levei 

 of center of eye, narrow, slender, the longest rays about 5 in length or 

 body. Ventral rays strong (broken off). Anterior anal rays much 

 stronger and longer than the posterior; dorsal rays in a groove formed 

 by elongate scales. Caudal deeply forked. 



Color {hi alcohol). — Back and top of head blackish; sides, opercle, 

 and cheek, and under side of lower jaw silvery; all the scales with 

 metallic luster; snout yellowish white. Gill and mouth cavities black- 

 ish, first dorsal and caudal fins dusky, the others pale. Peritoneum 

 blackish brown. 



