Jordan and Evermann. — Fishes of North America. 2035 



the median lateral series, bearing the lateral line, with a nearly continu- 

 ous row of 38 or 39 spineless plates from head to caudal (a few of them 

 with small, blunt tubercles) dorsolateral series composed of small, indis- 

 tinct i)lates from occiput to beyond middle of first dorsal, where they 

 become larger and spinous ; plates of sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth pairs 

 behind last ray of second dorsal closely approximated, but not forming 

 single median plates; from ninth pair to caudal the plates of the 2 rows 

 alternate as on ventral surface; plates in dorsal series 43 to 45. There are 

 almost complete series of small plates, alternating with the large ones, 

 1)etween the dorso and superior lateral series, between the superior and 

 median lateral, between the median and inferior lateral, and between the 

 inferior and ventro lateral series; this multiplication by intercalation of 

 small plates is evident all over the body. There are no large, but numer- 

 ous minute, plates in front of and on base of pectorals. Gill membranes 

 posteriorly and medially with several rather weak plates and many minute 

 plates and prickles, anteriorly and laterally with a few small plates; 

 underside of lower jaw with many imperfect plates or strong prickles; 

 weaker prickles along the branchiostegal rays. Head depressed through- 

 out, narrow to posterior border of orbits, behind which it widens rapidly. 

 Depth behind orbits 7,, and over opercles \, of width at same points; orbits 

 large, oval, 4^ in head, far forward ; interorbital space a little concave, very 

 broad; at anterior border of orbits wider than the orbit itself, 3^ in head; 

 at posterior border of orl)it 2J in head. Supraorbital ridges expanded 

 into a flat, triangular shelf projecting upward and outward over eye and 

 ending bluntly. Occipital ridges heavy, low, spineless, forming low domes 

 behind; space between them concave. Preorbital with about 2 ridges 

 radiating from the anteriorinferior border of orbit, each ending in a short, 

 broad, plate-like blunt spine; supraorbital with a broad, dome-like tuber- 

 cle; preopercle with a dorsoventrally compressed spine; below this 3 suc- 

 cessively smaller blunt spines; cheek below orbit and suborbital with 4 

 or T) fairly developed nnd many minute plates; nasal spines far apart, near 

 tip of snout sharp, nearly upright. A large membraneous nasal tube; a 

 short, llap-like barbel at tip of each maxillary; mucous pores of lower 

 jaw with flap-like borders. Mouth small, terminal; no median rostral 

 plate; maxillary reaching a little beyond front of orbit; angle of jaw 

 prominent, tubercular. Dorsals far apart (about 14 pairs of plates 

 between last spine and first ray ; 9 pairs from end of first dorsal mem- 

 brane to first ray), the first a short distance behind occiput, its spines 

 vei-y rough (like the rays of all the fins), with minute prickles or plates; 

 its leathery membrane alvso rough; spines 6, transversely broad at base, 

 the fourth longest, 2 in head ; base of second dorsal about 1;- in that of 

 first dorsal ; rays 7, the third longest, about \\ in head ; distance between 

 dorsals about equal to base of first dorsal; anal beginning about 3 plates 

 in front of second dorsal; rays 8, the fifth longest; the membrane notched, 

 the distal third of the 3 anterior rays exserted, with a narrow border of mem- 

 brane; caudal rounded, its base about 2 in its length; pectorals close to 

 gill openings, 4i in length of body, their Itase about 3 in their length, rays 

 <a little exserted; ventrals (male) less than 2 in pectorals, the inner ray 



