2356 Bidletin //, United States Natmial Museum. 



ZTZ. MALACOCTENUS, Gill. 



Malaeoctenut, Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1860, 103 {delalandi). 



This genus is very close to Lahrisomus, diifering in the dentition, the 

 toeth in the jaws being in single series; vomer with a few teeth or with 

 none, none on palatines. The form of the dorsal tin in some species is 

 diftereut, tliere being usually a notch behind the fourth dorsal spine as 

 well as at front of soft dorsal. Most of the species are not well known, 

 and perhaps more than 1 genus is here included. (//crAaKo?, soft; hteU, 

 comb, in reference to the comb of filaments at the nape in the typical 

 species.) 



a. Nape witliout filaments. 



6. Orbital tentacle present. 



c. D. X5I, 8; spinous dorsal not notched, the first rays shortest; body elon- 

 gate; snout pointed ; scales large, about 38. OCELLAtus, 2693. 

 ec. D. XX, 12; spinous dorsal weakly notched ; body rather robust. 



VAEIUS, 2694. 

 66. Orbital tentacle wanting ; dorsal rays XXI, 11 ; spinous dorsal weakly notched; 

 ventrals long. MACnopus, 2695. 



aa. Nape with a single tentacle. D. XVIII, 9; a tentacle above eye. lugdbris, 2696. 

 aaa. Nape with a comb of slender tentacles; spinous dorsal more or less notched 

 beliind fourth or fifth spine. 

 d. Orbital teut.acle present. D. XVIII to XX, 11 or 12 vomer with teeth. 

 e. Scales 43 or 44. 



/. Highest soft ray of dorsal IJ in head; dorsal without ocelli. 



gillii, 2697. 



ff. Soft rays of dorsal 1 J in head ; dorsal fin with 2 large black ocelli ; 



ventral fins long, as long as head. bi.mai'ULATUS, 2698. 



ee. Scales 55; ventrals moderate, shorter than head. delalandi, 2099. 



dd. Orbital tentacle w.anting ; (no vomerine teeth?). versicolor, 2700. 



aaaa. Nuchal and other filaments undescribed; a black ocellus on front of dorsal. 



D, XX, 11 ; scales 46. biguttatus, 2701. 



2693. MALACOCTEXUS OCELLATUS (Steindachner). 



Head 4 to 4J; depth 5 to 5|. D. XXI, 8; A. II, 8; scales 38; eye U to 5 

 in head; snout 5? ; iuterorbital width 10. Body elongate; the snout 

 short; profile not steep; tentacle above eye very slender, none on nape. 

 Maxillary \ long as head, reaching posterior margin of eye. Teeth on 

 jaws and vomer in 1 row, none on palatines. Dorsal with a notch 

 between the spines and soft rays; 8j)ines all short, the longest not ^ 

 head, the anterior shortest; the longest soft rays 1\ in head; dorsal 

 slightly joined to base of caudal; ventral and caudal each IJ^ in head; 

 pectoral almost as long as head. Lateral line complete, strongly arched 

 anteriorly. Color brownish; 8 pairs of narrow dark-brown cross bands 

 on the body, most distinct above, sometimes broken up into cro.ss spots; 

 first membrane of the dorsal fin with black spot behind, sometimes a sim- 

 ilar one, oval and indigo, behind eye ; numerous sky-blue spots bordered 

 with darker on sides of head and part of body ; anal pale violet, edged 

 with white, sometimes spotted; caudal gray, with darker spots in cross 

 rows. Bahama Islands. Length 2 inches. (Steindachner.) Not seen by 



