Jordan and Evcrniann. — Fishes of North America. 2039 



(sometimes varying on the 2 sides of the same animal), the first 2 (occa- 

 sionally the first 3) very large, supplying the lack of plates in the supe- 

 rior lateral series anteriorlj^ and sometimes apparently forming a part of 

 this series, their spines long, strong, and curved; remaining 5 or 6 plates 

 distributed at varying distances along side of body, small, but sometimes 

 provided with small spines ; the superior lateral series begins under about 

 the seventh spine of first dorsal and runs in a straiglit line to caudal, the 

 spines a little smaller than those of the inferior lateral series, and vary 

 from 25 to 27 in number (plus the 2 or 3 plates of the lateral line when 

 they appear to belong to this series). The dorsolateral series begins 

 behind occipital spine and follows outline of back close under dorsals, 33 

 to 35 pairs; plates small, with tubercles or blunt spines. Between the 

 dorsolateral series and tlie base of each dorsal fin is a supplementary 

 series of very small tuberculated plates or prickles; those under the 

 anterior fin sometimes become apparently continuous with the dorso- 

 lateral series, crowding the anterior jjlates of the latter downward ; about 

 5 pairs between dorsal fins. Behind pectoral, between the inferior lat- 

 eral series and the large anterior pore plates there are usually 2 or 3 plates, 

 of which 1 or 2 sometimes bear minute spines; 1 plate with a large, strong- 

 spine just above base of liectoral; none in front of the fin, which is close 

 to gill opening. No plates on branchiostegal membranes or lower jaw. 

 Head compressed, snout 34; nearly as wide as high across preopercle, 

 much narrower under orl)its. Orbits large, circular, high iip, 3 in head. 

 Interorbital space wide Ijehind, much narrower in front, concave ; supra- 

 orbital ridges high, shelving outward, over eye, ending in strong spines 

 directed outward, upward, and a little backward, in front of the base of 

 which there is a very small one, usually in the form of a tubercle of vari- 

 able size (most distinct in the young). Preorbital with 2 or 3 ridges radi- 

 ating from anterior inferior border of orbit, its edge scalloped; suborbital 

 with a strong, compressed spine projecting nearly at a right angle; i)re- 

 opercle with a strong, compressed, curved spine, and below it 2 or 3 flat- 

 tened smaller ones; nasal spines strong, curved, separate, somewhat 

 diverging; 1 or 2 or no plates on lower part of cheek; no median rostral 

 plate. Barbel at tip of snout, above prcmaxillaries, varying much in 

 length, frequently entirely absent. Mouth small, terminal; maxillary 

 reaching front of orbit. Teeth on jaws; none on vomer or palatines. 

 Angle of jaws prominent, tubercular. Gill membranes broadly united, 

 free from isthmus. First dorsal about 2^ times as long as second, high, 

 its spines strong, nearly upright, the first very, and some of the others 

 somewhat, granulated or beset with prickles; the anterior spines but little 

 exserted; membrane stretched. Second dorsal low, its rays stifl"; caudal 

 nearly truncate, its width at base about If in length ; anal long, begin- 

 ning under posterior end of first dorsal and ending opposite posterior end 

 of second dorsal ; 2 or 3 of the posterior rays (except the last) longest, all 

 the rays much, the anterior more than half, exserted; ventrals of female 8 

 or 9 in length of body ; in male longer, 6 to 7^ in body length. Abdom- 

 inal region much swollen in female. Lateral line, pores 15 to 19, in pairs, 

 except the first. Vent nearly halfway between ventrals and anal. Color 



