PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 309 



Body comparatively robust. Suont moderate. Occiput with a raised 

 keel ; joiut between the occiput and the first dorsal shield more perfect 

 than usual, so that the head can be placed at an angle with the body. 

 Greatest depth about equal to length ot post-orbital part of head. Skin 

 on breast and anterior ventral plates thin, showing- the striations of the 

 bones. Tail twice as long as trunk. Only the original types are 

 known. 



Habitat.— Facile coast of the United States: San Diego, Cal. 



3. Siphostoma califoniiense (Storer) J. &. G. 



Syiirinathus califoniiensis Storer, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nar. Hist, ii, 73, iy4.5 (Cali- 

 fornia); Storer, Syuopsis Fishes of North America, 524, 1846 (California); 

 Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862, 283 (California). Dameril Hist. Nat. 

 Priss. ii, 1870, 566. 

 Sijjhostoma calif orniensh Jor. »t Gilb. Proceed. U. S. Nat. Mus. 453. 1--0: .J. & 

 G. Proceed. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1, 69, 1881 (common south of San Francisco);. 

 J. & G. Synopsis Fishes North America, 384, 1882 (Pacific coast). 

 Head 6^ to 8 J in total length ; D. 39-46; rings 20-21 + 47-4!). 

 Trunk robust. Snout very long, 1^ to 14 iu head, with median ridge 

 above and below. Occiput and nuchal plates not carinated in adults. 

 Dorsal shorter than head, covering 1+0 rings. Distance to dorsal 2J 

 in length. Pectorals as long- as high, equaling- in length the diameter of 

 eye. Caudal pouch of males covering 21 to 25 rings, its length 3 in total. 

 Color iu life "olivaceous, varying to brownish red, yellowish below j 

 head and body variously marliled and speckled with whitish, the mark- 

 ing posteriorly taking the form of shore horizontal grayish streaks, 

 especially distinct on the top of the head; anteriorly often forming- nar- 

 row bars." (Jordan.) This is much larger than the other American 

 species, reaching a length of IS.J inches. Described here from specimens 

 taken at Santa Barbara and Mouterev. 



pangs. D.rays. Sno"*^ 



I 21-h47 45 !• 



i 20 + 47 43 If 



i 21--49 46 I ]| 



^ 21 + 49 43 If 



20 ^45 39 1 14 



21-49 43 1 1* 



^ 



^ 2l-r48 46 



The length of the snout is of but little -^'alue for specific distinction. 

 Professor Jordan found siecimens of S. californiense, at Santa Barbara 

 and Monterey, with the snout no longer than the rest of the head. 



As is usual in this group the females differ from the males, in a more 

 robust trunk, in a longer snout, and iu a greater keel on belly. These 

 differences are not very constant. 



Habitat.— Facilac coa.st of the United States ; common south of San 

 Francisco. 



