2038 Bulletin 47, United States Ahitlonnl Museum. 



Asyidoiihorus proboscidalis, Valenciennes, Comptes Eeudus tie I'Acad. des Sciences, 

 XLVll, 1040, 1858, Port of Emperor Nicolas (Nicolaevsk), Gulf of Tartary. 



Agonumahis proboticidalis, (luiniKNOT, Mem. Soc. Sci. Kat. Clierbourg, 1865, 254, pi. 9 ; 

 Sauvage, Nouv. Arch. Museum Hist. Nat., Paris (2), I, 1878, 157. 



761. HYPSAGONUS, Gill. 



Hypsagonus, Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. PLila. 1861, 259 (quadricornis). 



Cheiragonus, Herzenstein, Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. de St. Petersb., XIII, 1890 116, (gra- 

 diens = quadricornis) . 



Body compressed, elevated, depth greater tliaii lengtli of head, more 

 than i of body; head small, separated from first dorsal by a very deeii 

 nuchal depression; top of head very uneven, 1 pair of large supraocular 

 and 1 pair of large occipital spines, strong, blunt; mouth terminal, jaws 

 about eciual, a large barbel or none at tip of snout; teeth on jaws, none 

 on vomer or palatines; gill membranes united, free from isthmus; scales 

 or plates large, radially striated, with a central spine or tubercle; 2 rows 

 of strong and 2 of weaker spines along side of body; dorsal fin long, 

 high, beginniug immediately behind nape, the siiines strong, the first ser- 

 rated; pectorals short, procurrent, the lower 8 or 9 rays free; ventrals 

 small; vent nearly halfway between ventrals and anal, {vipi- high; 

 Agonus.) 



2400. HIPSAGOMJS (JUADRICORXIS* (Cuvier & Valeuciennes). 



Br. 6; D. IX to XI (rarely IX, usually X), 6 or 7; A. 9 or 10; P. 13 or 14; 

 V. 3 (I, 2); C. 13; vertebr;© /« (36). Pyloric cteca 5 (2 individuals). 

 Body strongly compressed throughout its length. Abdomen swollen 

 (much less in male than female) about n, of the depth, the latter 3 to 4'j 

 (usually about i) in the length; body much narrower under second dor- 

 sal, only about ^ of depth. Back rises almost periiendicularly behind the 

 nape, slopes downward to end of first dorsal, rises gently to base of sec- 

 ond dorsal, then sinks and rises again to base of caudal; A'entral outline 

 gently convex. Plates distriljuted in general as in the other Agonoids, 

 but with many deviations in detail. Interspaces membranaceous, studded 

 with a variable number of small plates; vent nearly haHway between 

 ventrals and anal, the memlnane between it and ventrals with scattered 

 plates; plates of ventrolateral series small, the spines short, blunt, 

 strongest from vent to anal; those of the inferior lateral series ehmgated 

 vertically, beginning behind middle of base of jjectorals, with long, 

 strong, curved spines, which rise abruptly from the center of the plates, 

 growing smaller posteriorly, minute at base of caudal, their number vary- 

 ing from 28 to 30. The series of the lateral line consists of 7 to 9 plates 



* Diagnosis: Body short, much compressed throughout its whole length; its greatest 

 width 3 to 4f- in depth; 2 rows of strong and 2 of weaker spines along side of body; a 

 strong spine above base of pectoral; head 3^; preopercular spi„j present, large; 1 pair 

 large supraocular and 1 yaiv large occipital spines, strong and blunt. Body abi'uptly ele- 

 vated behind nape: tirst ihnsaj long, high, beginning immediately behind nape; 8 or 9 

 lower rays of pectoral li( r: jilniis in dorsal series about 33 to 35; between dorsals about 

 5; usually a single bnilic 1 ;ii ti|i of snout; no median rostral plate; gill membranes 

 broadly united, free from istliiniis; no teeth on vomer or palatines; vent nearly halfway 

 between ventrals and anal. Color, front half of body blackish violet (variable), hinder 

 half pale, yellowish, with 2 or 3 narrow dark bands; caudal with dark band distally. 



