590 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



on the vomer, but rather smaller; a large compressed tooth at symphy- 

 sis; those of the lateral series of lower jaw small auteriorly, increasing 

 constantly backwards, where they equal those of the palatine series. 

 Eye large, 2.J in snout, 2 in postorbital part of head, nearly equaling 

 interorbital area. Interorbital space concave, with a shallow median 

 groove, divided by a ridge in front and behind ; supraocular ridge bony^ 

 striate. 



Distance from snout to front of dorsal 1:^ in distance from latter to 

 root of caudal; second dorsal spine longest, one- half length of snout 

 and eye; space separating dorsals 5^ in length of body; second dorsal 

 and anal opposite and equal, their margins concave, the longest ray about 

 2f in head. Caudal broad, moderately forked ; the middle rays half 

 the outer; the two lobes equal, concave. Pectoral reaching somewhat 

 beyond front of dorsal, one-third head. Ventrals inserted slightly in 

 advance of dorsal ; their distance from snout two-fifths length of body; 

 their length of in head. Scales large, uniform in size; head naked, 

 except cheeks and opercles, whicli are covered with small embedded 

 scales. 



Head three in length; depth equaling snout, 2-|^ in head. D. V — 1, 9; 

 A. II, 8. Scales 10-78-10 (the cross series counted from lateral line to 

 front of dorsal, and anal fins respectively). About 12 series of scales 

 on the cheeks. 



41. Polyuemus octofilis (Gill) J. & G. 



In appearance much resembling P. appt'oximam, the body compara- 

 tively little elongated, with short head and small mouth ; snout heavy, 

 projecting beyond mouth for a distance nearly equal to its own lengthy 

 posterior margin of orbit midway between preopercular margin and 

 anterior nostril; mouth small, the maxillary extending beyond orbit, 

 for a distance equaling two-thirds diameter of orbit; maxiUary 2^ in 

 head; snout three-fourths diameter of orbit; eye slightly less than inter- 

 orbital space, 4J in head; i)reorbital two-fifths vertical diameter of orbit; 

 longest-gill raker five-sixths diameter of eye; 18 on lower limb. 



Interval between dorsals If in head; third dorsal si)ine highest, 1^ 

 in head, nearly reaching origin of second dorsal wlien depressed ; second 

 dorsal falcate, its highest raj' If in head. 



Anal not falcate, the tips of anterior rays not i)rojecting beyond the 

 gently concave outline of the fin; longest ray If in head; insertion of 

 anal opposite second soft ray of dorsal ; anal spines comparatively well 

 developed, the third equaling diameter of orbit. 



Lower caudal lobe 3^ in body. 



Ventrals inserted under fifth dorsal spine, their length nearly ^ head. 



Pectorals reaching vertical from tips of ventrals 1^ in head. Fila- 

 ments slender; 8 in luimber; the length of the upper one one-third dis- 

 tance from tip of snout to fork of caudal tin, reaching slightly beyond 

 the vent; the lowermost filament two-thirds head. 



