2360 Bidletin //, U^iited States National Museum. 



2701. MALACOCTEXUS BIGCTTATUS (Cope). 



Dorsal XIX-1, 11 ; anal II, 16 ; The first dorsal spines the longest, last 

 spine longer than penultimate; length of head without opercular flap, 

 3| times in length (exclusive of caudal fin) ; eye a little less than \ 

 length of head, f greater than interorbital width; pectoral fin reaching 

 to fifth anal; scales large, 4^6-10 [cirri and teeth not described]. Pale 

 reddish brown, humeral red-veined; rufous specks on anterior part of 

 sides ; 7 subquadrate brown blotches from nape to caudal fin, continued 

 with interruptions as lateral bands, the fourth near end of spinous dorsal 

 black; a black spot at base of membrane between first to third dorsal 

 spines; 2 small brown spots behind orbit, the posterior on operculum. 

 Length 2.25 inches. This species is well distinguished from Lahrisomua 

 nucMphinis by the large scales, form of dorsal fin, coloration, etc. From 

 New Providence, Bahamas; Dr. H. C. Wood's collection. Also a very 

 small specimen from Dr. Rijgersma, St. Martins. (Cope.) Not seen by 

 us. (Ms, two; guttatus, spotted.) 



Labrisomui higuttatus, Cope, Trans. Am. Philos. Soc. Phila. 1873, 473, New Providence, 

 Bahama Islands. (Coll. Dr. H. C. Wood.) 



873. LABRISOMUS,* Swainson. 



Labrisomus, Swainson, Nat. Hist. Class'n Fishes, 11, 277, 1839 (pectinifer) . 



Lepixoma, De Kay, New York Fauna: Fishes, 41, 1842 (cirrhosum) . 



Lahrosomus, Gill, amended spelling. 



? Blennioclinus, Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 18G0, 103 {brachi/cephalus). 



1 Auchenionchus (misprinted Anchenionchus), Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1860, 103 



(variolosus) . 

 ? Calliclinios, Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1860, 103 (geniguttatus) . 

 ? Ophthalmolophus, Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1860, 104 (latipinnis) . 



* Concerning this genus and its affines, Dr. Gill remarks: 



" The name Labrosoiiivs (or Labrisom-Ks) was first published in 1839, in the second volume 

 of the 'Natural History of Fishes, Amphibians, and Reptiles.' At tlie seventy-tilth pageof 

 that volume, Swainson has divided the Cuvieran genus Cllnus into 5 genera: Cliiius, of 

 which the C7(7iiua(«mi7!n'?MS,Cuvier, is taken astlie type; LabrUoMus with CUnu.s /lectin- 

 i/cc, Valenciennes, as type; Tnpten/fiion. Kisso, Clinitrarhus. Keese, whieh is lypilied by 

 Blennius variabilis of Eafinesque, and Bleniioi)1ns. of wliieh the Clinux an'jiiiUaiis, N'alen- 

 ciennos is the only true species. Of these genera, Climi-s Swainson, and Clin ifrarh cs S wMin- 

 son, are distinguished by false or illusive characters, and cannot be reganled as distinct. 

 The others are valid, but their characters require revision. The only claim to distinction 

 of the genus Labrosonivs given by Swainson, is founded on the strong, conic, and pointed 

 row of front teeth, behind which are villiform ones; a thicker body than in Clinus, and the 

 'dorsal tin distinctly emarginate toward the caudal.' The genus resting on these charac- 

 ters alone is composed of very incongruous elements. To it are referred, iit page 277 of 

 the second volume, the following species, all of which are described as species of Clinus 

 by Valenciennes: Labrosonivs gobio, L. pectinifer, L. eapillatns, L. dclalandii, L. lin- 

 earis, L. variolosus, L. pertivianus, L. microcirrhis, L. ? g'miijattatus, L. elegans, L. t Ht- 

 ^orcMsand Ij. latipinnis. Of these species, not more than 3 can, with propriety, be regarded 

 as congeners, if the Labrosomvs pectinifer is taken as the type. These are Labrosumus 

 pectinifer, L. c.apillatu!<, and perhaps i. delalandii. Tlie latter is more probably the lepre- 

 sentative of a distinct genus. That genus is distinguished from /jf(6ro«o?)iMsbj' the smaller 

 mouth, the presence of only 2 rays to the ventral fins, and ])erliaps by the undulating mar- 

 gin of the spinous portion of the dorsal fin. It may be named Malacoctcniis, in allusion to 

 the pectiniform row of filaments. This genus is the nearest ally of Labrosomus. All the 

 others are very distinct. Labrisomus gobio Swainson, is the type of quite a distinct genus, 

 whose characters consist of a broad, depressed head, with a very .short muzzle, large .ap- 

 proximated eyes, superciliarj' and nasal tentacles, 2 ventral r.ays, .and a comparatively short 

 spinous dorsal. The genus may be called Oobioclinns. The only species, Gobioclimis gobio, 

 is found in the West Indies, and has but 18 dorsal s]iine3. Labrisomus linearis Swainson 

 is synonymous with Clinus brachycephalus, Valenciennes. This, also, is the type of a 



