98 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



liigiier than those immediately following. The rays again increase to 

 abont the forty-lifth, whei^e the fin forms almost an angle, the rays rap- 

 idly diminishing- to its termination opposite that of the anal, at about 

 half the depth of the peduncle from the caudal. Anal commencing a 

 little behind the base of the pectoral, similar to the dorsal, its longest 

 rays about the 23d-2oth, where the fin forms a rounded angle similar to 

 that of the dorsal, the rays diminishing thence regularly and rai^idly. 

 Longest rays of dorsal and anal about § of the length of the head. Anal 

 usually with a small spine ; all the rays of dorsal and anal simple ; those 

 behind the longest rays inclined forwards. Caudal rather broad, its 

 rays twice bifurcate ; the first bifurcation at about the middle, the sec- 

 ond at three-foiu'ths of then" length from the base; posterior margin 

 regularly convex. Pectoral rather short ; that of colored side contained 

 7^-8i times in the total length, about 1§ times in that of head; that of 

 blind side much shorter, about t/W of the length of the head. Rays of 

 pectoral of colored side . once l)ifurcate, the two uppermost excepted ; 

 those of the blind side undivided. Ventrals ^ of the length of the head, 

 their rays undivided, and the tips of the fins extending beyond the ori- 

 gin of the anal ; their base very broad, its posterior portion beloAV the 

 anterior i)ortion of the pectoral base. Lateral line median on the caudal 

 peduncle, and thence forwards to nearly the tip of the ])ectorals, where 

 it commences to rise slightly, Avith very small curvature, to its origin. 

 Accessory lateral line euding below the 45th-53d ray of the dorsal; that of 

 the blind side rather shorter. A line of x>ores commences at the tuber- 

 cles on the posterior margin of the upper eye, is continued behind the 

 lower eye at some distance from it, and thence along the suborbitals to 

 a line with the front of the pupil — about sixteen tubular i>ores. Scales 

 rather small, smooth, not imbricated, except on the caudal i)eduncle, but 

 imbedded in the skin ; those on cheeks and opercles smaller, and those 

 of the left side considerably smaller than those of the right. Snout, 

 interocular space, and lower jaw scaleless. Several rows of extremely 

 small scales on dorsal and anal rays ; caudal rays with very small scales 

 on both sides. Color of a fresh individual dark chocolate-brown, becom- 

 ing reddish on the lower part of the head ; after exposure to alcohol the 

 color becomes duller, and the scales shoAV distinctly lighter than the siu-- 

 rounding skin. Others are olivaceous. All are much lighter when cov- 

 ered with mucus. Bhnd side creamy white, in some spotless, in others 

 with three or four large, and several smaller, dark -brown blotches on the 

 anterior portion of the body. Dorsal and anal fins clouded with dark 

 and light olivaceous ; pectoral of colored side dark. 



