2434 Bulletin ^.y, United States National Museicm. 



enlarged. Gill openings slightly prolonged forward below, narrowly 

 attached to the isthmus anteriorly. Dorsal composed of many sharp, flex- 

 ible si)ines, diminished in length anteriorly. Caudal long, pointed ; anal 

 with 3 sjiines and many rays; pectorals large, the middle rays longest; 

 A^entrals jngnlar, Avith 1 spine and 3 rays. Intestine short; pyloric cieca 

 lor 2; no air bladder. Northern Seas. (TTopoS, pore; Cliiius.) 



2789. POROCLINUS ROTHROCKI, Bean. 



Head 6^ in length; depth at nape 12. D. LVII to LX ; A. Ill, 40 to 42. 

 Body tapering uniformly backward. Vent placed anteriorly, its distance 

 from snout 1| to If in its distance from base of candal. Snout compressed, 

 slightly projecting, the lower jaw included; maxillary reaching vertical 

 from front of pupil, 3^ to 3i in head. Teeth acute, iu narrow bands in 

 the jaws, a single well-maiked series onvomer, and a patch on front of 

 palatines, those on vomer and 2)alatines fully as large as those on jaws, 

 aud equally developed in young and adults. Eyes large, close together, 

 the interorbital 8j)ace convex, its width about i pupil. Diameter of orl>it 

 equaling length of maxillary, about 3^ in head. Nostril tubes well devel- 

 oped, i diameter of pupil. Gill openings narrower than in other described 

 members of this group, extending forward below the vertical from poste- 

 rior part of cheek, where they are firmly joined to isthmus, across which 

 they do not form a fold. Gill rakers obsolete. Dorsal beginning over end 

 of opercular flap, its distance from nape equaling distance of latter from 

 posterior margin of pupil; membrane of last si)ine slightly joined to base 

 of caudal; anterior dorsal spines short, but well connected by membrane; 

 anal with 3 distinct spines, shorter than the rays that follow, the second 

 the longest, all as strong as dorsal spines, aud fully connected by mem- 

 brane, rays all branched at tip, membrane of last ray joined only slightly 

 to base of caudal ; caudal sharply pointed in all our specimens, the median 

 rays longest, about as long as head; pectorals evenly rounded, the median 

 rays longest, 14 or 15 in number, all branched; ventrals well developed, 

 about f, as long as head, consisting of 1 short, sharp spine and 3 rays, the 

 spine not closely joined to rays. Lateral line indistinct, usually appear- 

 ing obsolete, more evident toward head, consisting of a series of distant 

 pores along median line; scales very small, cycloid, imbricated, covering 

 body, inclosing abdomen, breast, and nape; cheeks scaled, the head other- 

 wise naked, or sometimes with a small patch of scales on upper part of 

 opercles. Color, sides with a series of 10 to 12 narrow white cross bars, 

 the first in front of dorsal fin, the last under last dorsal spine, the bars 

 about i interspaces ; above lateral line scales conspicuously margined with 

 darker, below lateral line they broaden out and become forked; upper 

 caudal rays at base with an oval white ring inclosing a darker area, tliis 

 mark more conspicuous in the young; belly and ventrals white, other fins 

 dusky, but without definite markings. (Gilbert.) Bering Sea. Known 

 from 2 specimens; the type, 7 inches long, was taken Augiist 4, 1888, at 

 Albatross Station 2852, north latitude .55*^ 15', west longitude 159° 37', at a 

 depth of 58 fathoms, between Nagai and Big Koniushi Islands. The spec- 



