142 PROCEEDIXGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



They are closely related to that groui^ of fishes known in Cuba by the 

 common name "Al)a(lejo" ("Codlish"), and represented by Poey's species 

 Trisofrojns intcrsfiiialis and T. dimidiatus. With the description of the 

 former,* it corresponds except in the greater length of the head and the 

 mnch greater number of the scales. 



Diagnosis. — The length of the head is contained 2h to 2f times in the 

 length to origin of middle caudal rays. Eye contained to 0^ times 

 in the head. The maxilla extends to the perpendicular through i)oste- 

 rior margin of orbit; upper jaw equals length of anal base ; it is contained 

 2\ times in the length of the head. Tlie mandible extends beyond the 

 perpeudicular through the jjosterior margin of the orbit, and is slightly 

 more than one-half the length of tlie head. Each jaw has two canines. 

 The iutermaxillaries have an inner band of villiform and an outer series 

 of large, slender, conical teeth curved inward. At the sym])hysis are 

 some long slender teeth pointing backwards and movable. The lower 

 jaw has two series of sleiuler conical teeth, the inner being the larger 

 and movable. The head of the vomer is supplied with very small villi- 

 form teeth. A narrow ban<l of similar teeth on the palatines. Preoper- 

 culum finely denticulated on its posterior margin and with coarser den- 

 ticulatious at the angle. The length of the intermaxillary is contained 

 3 times in that of the lower jaw. Pectoral extends to the 9th spine of 

 1st dorsal and the ventral as far. The distance from the ventral to the 

 vent slightly exceeds that from the vent to the origin of the anal. The 

 length of the 1st dorsal spine is slightly more than that of the 2d; the 

 3d and 4th are the longest; the last dorsal spine is slightly longer 

 Than the one preceding it. The 1st anal spine is about ^ as long as the 

 last, which is more slender and longer than the 2d. The tail seems to 

 be truncate. The height of the body is contained 3i times in the length 

 to the origin of the middle caudal rays. 



Tuhle of Mcasuremcnis. 



""Muui. Nat. Cuba, ii, 18G8, p. 127, pi. xiii, lig. 7. 



