Jordan and Evermann. — Fishes of North America. 2321 



vent and anal fin. At each end of this cross series a series of pores turns 

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

 in front of a vertical from base of pectorals. Finally, 3 parallel series 

 on each side of lower parts of head meet in front, the two anterior 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 opening. Mandilile with 2 

 large foramina. A series of dark-colored pores along each side of tongue. 

 Length 8 inches. South Carolina to Texas, and southward to Argentina, 

 on sandy shores; not very common, and found in rather deep water. Not 

 rare aljout Galveston, but unknown to fishermen at Peusacola. Here 

 described from the types of P. plectrodon, the North American form. The 

 types of P. poros'issimus examined by us in Paris agree in dentition and 

 other respects. Except for the remote locality there is no suggestion of 

 difterences. We are informed by Dr. Vaillant that the type specimen of 

 P. porosissimus from St. Catherine, has 33 anal rays, that from Rio Jan- 

 eiro 32, and that the numlier 27, given by Valenciennes for this species, 

 represents an error in counting. According to Valenciennes, P. porosissi- 

 mus has D. 11-36; A. 27; each palatine bone with a row of small, pointed, 

 unequal teeth; row of pores above anal reaching base of caudal. Color 

 grayish brown above, silvery white below ; dorsal and anal whitish, edged 

 with brown ; pectoral with longitudinal lines ; ventrals brownish on the 

 outer edge; caudal whitish at base, the rest brownish; some specimens 

 with dark cross bands, {porosissimus, most porous.) 



JBatrachus porosissimvs, Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poias., xii, .501, 1837, Suri- 

 nam (Coll. Leachenault & Douiucrc), Cayenne (Coll. Poiteau), Rio Janeiro (Coll. 

 Delalande), St. Catherine (Coll. Lesson & Garnot). 



Porichthys plectrodon, Jobdan & Gilbert, Proc. TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 1882, 291, Galveston, 

 Texas (Type, No. 30894. Coll. D. S. Jordan) ; Jordan & Gilbert, Synop.sis, 958, 1883. 



Porichthys porosissimus, GiJtiTRER,Ca^t.,lu, 176, 1861; Joedan, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 

 1883, 291 ; Berg, An. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aire.s, 1895, 70. 



Porichthys porosissimus, Jordan &. Gilbert, Synopsis, 751, 1883; Meek & Hall, Proc. 

 Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1885, 57. 



2654. PORICHTHYS A'OTATUS, Girard. 

 (Singing Fish ; Midshipman; Cabezon; Sapo.) 



Head 3f; depth 6^. D. 11-37; A. 33; V. I, 2; P. 18; eye 8 in head; 

 maxillary 2; pectoral 1? ; ventral 2f ; caudal 2f . Head narrowed forward; 

 opercle developed as a strong spine; maxillary reaching beyond orbit; 

 lower jaw with a single row of about 10 large, recurved teeth, behind which 

 is a patch of small teeth ; sides of jaw with a single series of canines simi- 

 lar to those in front, but larger; upper jaw with an irregular series of 

 small teeth; palatines with a single series of conical teeth; 2 large curved 

 canines on vomer ; head with several rows of fringed pores ; 1 row along 

 lower line of opercle and subopercle ; another along upper edge of cheek, 

 this branching behind and below the orbit, 1 branch running forward 



