DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OP CALLIONYMUS (CALLIO- 

 NYMUS BAIRDI) FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO. 



Ry DAVID MTAKR. .lORDAIV. 



Callionymus bairdi, sp. no v. 



Head 3i- in length (4i with caudal); depth, 0.' (12) ; D. iv-9., A. 8. 

 Type Ko. (39300) U. S. Nat. Mns., 4.} inches long. From the Snapper 

 banks in the Gnlf of Mexico. 



Body long and low, very slender, the head much depressed, the least 

 depth of the caudal peduncle about equal to the diameter of the eye. 

 Head triangular, as viewed from above, its breadth two-thirds its length 

 exclusive of the iireopercular spine. Snout bluutish as seen from above, 

 sharp in profile, its outline straight and moderately steep until above 

 the eyes; profile behind the eyes considerably depressed. Snont 2| 

 in head to gill opening; eye 4; mouth small, inferior, the maxillary 

 reacbiug front of eye, as long as snout; lower lip conspicuous. Teeth 

 slender, in villiform bands in both jaws, none on vomer. Interorbital 

 area a simple narrow ridge. Bones of head behind eyes rugose ; a low 

 rough tubercle of bare bone above the temj)oral region on each side, 

 somewhat behind each eye. Preopercular spine very long, as long as 

 eye, its exterior ridge with a single antrorse spiuule at its base, its pos- 

 terior edge with eight conspicuous hooks turned forward and inward, 

 these growing progressively smaller from the second. Gill opening re- 

 duced to a pore at upper posterior angle of opercle, its width rather less 

 than that of pupil. Dorsal spines strong, the first ending in a slender 

 filament, the whole as long as head. Second and third spines broken 

 (probably each with a short filament in life, as a short filament is still 

 present on the fourth spine). Fourth spine well behind third (leaving 

 room'for another spine, although no trace of such spine is present). Soft 

 dorsal high, most of its rays slightly filamentous at tip, the longest about 

 f head. Caudal subtruncate, not filamentous, about as long as head to 

 base of preopercular spine. Anal fin rather high, the length of its base 

 3 in body. Pectorals about as long as ventrals, each as long as head 

 without preopercular spine. Lateral line single. Color light grayish, 

 mottled or spotted with y^ljowish and dark brown ; cheeks with steel- 

 bluish spots ; first dorsal with dusky reticulations around pale gray 

 spots ; second dorsal and caudal with narrow dusky cross-streaks ; anal 

 with its posterior half chiefly black, the anterior pale ; ventrals black ; 

 pectorals pale. 



The type of this sj^ecies, a specimen 4^ inches long, in good condi- 

 tion, was sent to me by Mr. Silas Stearns, of Pensacola. It came from 

 the " spewiugs " of Snapper or Grouper [Lutjanus aija or Epinephelus 

 morio), taken on the " Snapper " banks, between Pensacola and Tampa. 



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