2424 Didlctin 4.7, United States National Miisetim. 



spines, iu the branches of the upper lateral liue nmning higher, and in 

 toloration. ( Vlra, the green sea lettuce.) 



Xiphidion viva; JORDAN & Starks, Fishes of Puget Sound, 847, 1895, Waadda Island, 

 Neah Bay. (Type, No. 3132, L. S. Jr..TJniv. Mus. Coll. E. C. Starks.) 



2780. XIPHISTES CHIRUS (Jordan & Gilbert). 



Head 7; depth 9. D. LXX; A. II, 50. Head short; nape not con- 

 stricted; mouth small; maxillary extending to middle of pupil; teeth 

 strong, the anterior canine-like, blunti.sh; about 4 canines in lower jaw, 5 

 or 6 in the upper, similar to the teeth behind them, but somewhat larger. 

 Abdominal lines meeting on the breast, but not connected with the lower 

 lateral line. Dorsal tin beginning close behind pectoral ; nape nudway 

 between middle of eye and front of dorsal; anal beginning about a liead's 

 length nearer snout than base of caudal; pectoral liu comparatively large, 

 longer than the eye, its length about equal to distance between middle 

 and lower lateral lines. Color olive brown, yellowish below ; 8id.es with 

 marblings of difterent shades of brown, sometimes with short blackish 

 vertical bars; some round black spots along the back and sides; a black 

 spot behind opercles; numerous black spots on sides of head, forming in 

 older individuals light and dark streaks, which radiate from eye across 

 cheek and opercles, the pale streaks forming reticulations ; dorsal with 

 black spots and a series of bright reddish brown cross blotches; pectorals 

 and caudal plain. Monterey to Alaska ; smaller than the other species, 

 and living in deeper water; abundant about Cape Flattery. (Jordan & 

 Gilbert.) (Xfz'p, hand.) 



Xiphisler chirus, Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mns. 1880, 135, Point of Los Pinos, 

 near Monterey, California (Coll. Jordan & Gilbert); Jordan & Gilbert, Synopsis, 

 772, 1883; Jordan & Starks, Pishes of Puget Sound, 846, 1895. 



gio. XIPHIDION, Girard. 



Xiphidion, Girard, Pac. R. R. Surv., x, Fishes, 119, 1858 (mucosum) ; not Xiphidium, Serv., 



a genus of Grasshoppers. 

 Xiphister, Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1879, 241 {miicosum) ; substitute for Xiphidion, 



regarded as preoccupied by Xiphidiuin. 



Body elongate, eel-shaped, covered with small scales; lateral lines 

 several: 1 along the median line of the side, 1 above this, and 1 below 

 it; 1 on each side of the abdomen, the 2 meeting in front, and 1 from the 

 occiput toward the liase of the dorsal fin. Each of these has on each side 

 series of short branches, placed at right angles to the main line, those on 

 opposite sides alternating. Each of these branches has about 2 open 

 mucous pores. Lower lateral line connected with the abdominal line. 

 Head short, bluntish, scaleless; mouth moderate, oblique; jaws with 

 rather strong teeth, the anterior canine-like; no teeth on vomer or pala- 

 tines. Branchiostegals 6 ; gill membranes separate, free from the isthmus. 

 A single long, low, uniform dorsal fin, consisting of spines only; anal tin 

 similar in form, with small spines, indistinct or obsolete; caudal short, 

 joined to dorsal and anal ; no ventral fins ; pectoral fins very small, shorter 



