766 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



21; I). 1>3; A. 74; P. 25; .scak'.s in luteral line, KM); between lateral 

 line andiiLscrtion of dorsal, II; between lateral ]in(> and insertion of 

 anal, ,S0. 



Body very elongate; the deepest pai-t in the region of anal opening 

 from where it slopes evenly to the narrow base of caudal. 



Snout, blunt and short; its length (^lual to longitudinal diameter of 

 eye. Interoi-bital space convex. Jaws equal. Mouth large, oblique. 

 Maxillary extending beyond the orbit a distance equal to a})out one- 

 half the vertical diameter of eye; the entire upi)er edge slipping under 

 the su))orbital; the distal end broad, its posterior edge concave! Lips 

 thin, their surfaces smooth. Jaws, vomer, and palatines witii l)road 

 bands of closely -crowded, minute,, blunt teeth; the palatine Ininds 

 nearly two times as wide as those of jaws. Tongue with a long and 

 narrow patch of similar teeth extending from symphysis of the first 

 to that of the third gill arch; a small oblong toothed area at symphysis 

 of fourth arch, separating the lingual plate from the lower pharyn- 

 geal. Upper part of pharynx with live small toothed patches on each 

 side. Floor of pharynx with two narrow toothed surfaces, united 

 before, diverging backward. Pseudobranchiis small, coveriiig an area 

 not nmch longer than the diameter of pupil. Gill-rakers on first arch 

 5 + 14; very long and slender near middle of arch; reduced to mere 

 elevations toward the ends. 



Dorsal surface of head with a V-shaped ridge; the apex above 

 anterior edge of eye, the arms extending ])ackward. A post-orbital 

 ridge extending on each side parallel to the posterior parts of the tirst 

 mentioned elevations. Upper rim of orbit with a slight ridge. Pre- 

 opercle with two prominent flat spines projecting ])ackward; "the lower 

 and larger at the angle; the other about one-half the diameter of eye 

 above the lower opercle with a strong spine. 



Head and body completely covered with small, oval, cycloid scales, 

 which have minute striae radiating from the center. Sciles on max- 

 illary very small. Membranes of dorsal and anal with minute scales. 

 Lateral line extending along upper third of body, disappearing at a 

 point al)out one-half the length of head from base of caudal. 



Dorsal lins continuous with the caudal; the distance between tip of 

 snout and insertion of dorsal equal to one and one-(|uarter times the 

 length of head; the rays of both fins a little higher on the posterior 

 than on the anterior parts, the tvga filamenfom; last ravs extending 

 about to middle of caudal fin. Caudal long and narriw; the base 

 truncate; the tip pointed. Pectorals rather acutely rounded. Ven- 

 trals inserted close together; near anterior edge of humeral symphy- 

 sis; the distance between their bases about equal to one-third the 

 width of posterior edge of maxillary; each tin with two rays, parted 

 for about half their length. 



Color in spirits bluish white throughout. 



