PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 331 



A baud of closely set, sharp, nearly straight, cardiform teeth in both 

 jaws, the largest teeth in the front of the jaws, where there are more 

 rows than at the sides. Similar teeth on vomer and palatines. Cush- 

 ions of \illiform teeth on pharyngeals. 



Gill -rakers tubercular ; branchiostegals live, gill-membranes broadly 

 connected below the throat ; no isthmus. Pseudobranchi?e present. 



Preoperculum with a large process which has four curved spines above 

 and ends in a spine directed backwards. Sometimes there is a fifth 

 spine on the upper margin, or the tip is bifid. Three other preopercular 

 spines, the uppermost a little below the spine-bearing process, and 

 directed backwards, the next pointing downwards, the lowest obhquely 

 forwards, the three last equidistant. Supra-scapula with a ridge, in a 

 line with the first scale of the lateral line. Upper surface and sides of 

 the head with numerous pores, the most conspicuous of which are on the 

 anterior portion of the forehead. Top and sides of head with some 

 minute, smooth, imbedded scales. Opercle sniall, ending posteriorly in 

 a flat, bluntish spine, behind which is a large membranous flap. 



First five spines of first dorsal sub -equal, the others diminishing 

 rapidly, last very short. Two dorsals entirely separate, interval short. 



Second dorsal increasing in height to fourth or fifth ray, first ray 

 about !^ as long as second. From the longest ray the upper margin in- 

 clines regularly to the last (14th), which is about i the length of the 

 longest. 



Anal similar to soft dorsal, but the rays shorter, fourth ray longest 

 Origin of 1st dorsal opposite the center of the supra- scapular ridge, that 

 of 2d opposite the 11th scale of the lateral line, anal arising opposite 

 the 2d, and terminating opposite the 13th ray of the 2d dorsal. 



Pectoral base oblique, broad, pectoral broadly lanceolate, 5th ray 

 longest and extending back to the 2nd ray of the 2d dorsal. 



Yentrals small, four-rayed, inserted shghtly behind the posterior axil 

 of the pectoral base ; length to that of pectoral as ? • 8. All fin-rays 

 nnbranched. 



Each side of the body with two bands of large, strongly ctenoid scales; 

 the lower bearing the lateraUine, composed of 35 to 37 scales, beginning 

 at the upper angle of the gill-openings, thence strongly decurved over 

 the pectorals, thence running straight to the base of the caudal. Many 

 of the scales on the posterior part of this band are provided with slender 

 cirri. The upper band of scales begins further back, in front of the 

 middle of the dorsal, and runs along the base of the dorsal fins, stopping 

 before reaching the caudal. This band is composed of two series of 

 alternating scales, closely wedged in together. Between and above 

 these bands are a few small scattered imbedded scales. Like the scales 

 on the head these small scales can only be seen with the aid of a magni- 

 fying- glass. 



Color olivaceous, with darker spots formed of black punctulations ; 

 four or five dark blotches along the lateral line. Branchiostegal mem- 



