PEOCEEDIXGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 293 



directly below angle of inoutli, the two diveigiug- sliglitly between veu- 

 trals, then converging a little behind ventrals, then abruptly diverging, 

 joining the series last mentioned, on each side, jnst in front of l)ase of 

 pectoral. 



A cross-series of pores e5:tends straight across belly, between vent 

 and anal fin. At each end of this cross-series a series of i^ores turns 

 abruptly forward, the two meeting in an acute angle on the belly just 

 in front of a vertical from base of pectorals. Finally, three parallel 

 series on each side of lower parts of head meet in front, the two ante- 

 rior in obtuse curves, the posterior in an acute angle. The anterior 

 series along the mandible ends at the corner of the mouth. The next 

 just behind the mandible ends just below the corner of the mouth. The 

 next passes along the branchiostegal region, ending at the gill oi)ening. 

 JMandible with two large foramina. A series of dark-colored pores along 

 each side of tongue. 



This species is not rare about Galveston, where many specimens, the 

 largest 8 inches long, were obtained with the seine, iu water of moder- 

 ate depth. It seems to be unknown to fishermen at Peusacola. 



GOBIESOCID.E. 



104. Gobiesox virgatulus sp. HOT. P. (30861.) 



Three specimens, the longest about 1;^ inches in length, taken among 

 ballast rocks in Peusacola Bay. 



Head 2f (3f ); width of head 3^; depth G (7). D. 10 ; A. S. 



Body rather slender, the head low and rather l)road, broadly rounded 

 anteriorly ; eyes very small, about 4 in head, their diameter two-thirds 

 to three-fourths the broad, slightly convex interorbital space. Cheeks 

 prominent ; opercle ending in a sharp spine. Cleft of mouth extending 

 to below- front of orbit ; lower jaw somewhat shorter than upper. 



Teeth of upper jaw in a narrow baud of about two series; four teeth 

 of the outer series a little larger than the rest, somewhat canine-like. 

 Middle teeth of lower jaw incisor-like and partly horizontal, their edges 

 entire or somewhat concave. Yeutral disk considerably shorter than 

 head. Distance from root of caudal to front of dorsal 2| in length. 

 Pectoral short, about 2f in head. 



Color in life olivaceous, with numerous paler spots; the whole body 

 covered with rather faiut, wavy longitudinal stripes or lines of a light 

 orange-brown color, about as wide as the interspaces, much as in some 

 species of LipaHs; skin everywhere with dark punctulations. Caudal 

 dusky, slightly barred with paler, its tip abruptly yellowish. Dorsal 

 and anal dusky, somewhat barred. Body sometimes with traces of 

 darker cross-shades. 



This species may be identical with Gohiesox mtdiis of Giinther, but the 

 name nudus cannot fairly be reta ined, as the original Gyclopterus nudus 

 L. was an East Indian species, very different from this. 



