Jordan and Evcnnann. — Fishes of North America. 2023 



2391. HEMITRIPTERUS AMERICANUS (Gmelin). 



(Sea Raven.) 



Head 2i; depth 3f. D. IV, XII-I, 12; A. 13; scales 40. Body villous, 

 tbe prickles enlarged and tnbercle-like along back and lateral line; nasal 

 spines strong; supraocular ridge much elevated, with dermal flaps and 2 

 blnnt spines; 3 pairs of fleshy slips on nasal bones, and 2 on supraocular 

 ridges; smaller cirri on maxillary, on preorbital, and several on lower 

 jaw; interocular space very deeply concave; 2 blunt occipital sjiines on 

 each side, outside ol' which are 2 or 3 others; opercle small, with a bony 

 ridge; preopercle with 2 blunt spines, below which are 1 or 2 others; 

 lower jaw slightly i^rojecting; maxillary reaching beyond eye, about ^ 

 head ; pectorals nearly reaching anal ; highest dorsal spine If in length 

 of head, as long as caudal ; ventrals reaching halfway to anal. Reddish 

 brown, marbled with darker brown, and much variegated; yellowish 

 below; fins variegated with light and dark. Length 8 inches. Atlantic 

 coast of America, chiefly northward, from New York to Labrador, not rare, 

 common at Woods Hole in Octol)er and November ; a most remarkable 

 looking fish. 



Scorpcena a?n.mca?ia. Gmelin, Syst. Nat., 1220. 1788, after "Diable en crapand de Mer 

 d'Am6rique" of du Hamel de Monceau, Peche, in, 2, 93. 



Cottus aeadian, Pennant, Arctic Zool., in, 371, Nova Scotia. 



Cottus aeadian, "Walbaum, Artedi Pise, 392, 1792, Nova Scotia ; Newfoundland. 



Oottus his2Jidus, Block & Schneider, Sy-st. Iclitli., 63, 1801, New York. 



Cottus tripterygius, Bloch & Schneider, Syat. Iclith., 63, 1801, Nova Scotia ; after pen- 

 nant. 



Hemitripterusamericamis, Cuvier&Yalenciej^nes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., iv, 268,1829; GuN- 

 THEE, Cat., II, 143, 1860 ; Jordan & Gilbert, Synopsis, 685, 1883. 



Hemitriptertis acadianus, Storee, Hist. Fish. Mass., 35, 1867. 



2392. HEMITBIPTKRUS OAVIFROXS, Lockington. 



I). IV, XIV, 13; A. 14; P. 20; V. I, 3; scales 44. Very similar to Hcmi- 

 fripferus anu'vicanus, but with the upper surface of the head more uneven, 

 the concavity of the interocular area more marked, and the dorsal fin with 

 more spines. Head equaling depth, about 3^ in total length with caudal. 

 Length 16 inches. Coast of Alaska, not common; perhaps not distinct 

 from the preceding, (cavus, concave; frons, forehead.) 



Hemitripterus cavifrons, Lockington, Proo. Ac. Nat. Sci. I'liila. 1880, 233, Kadiak Island, 

 Alaska. (Coll. W.J. Fisher.) 



754. SYNCHIRUS, Bean. 



Synckirus, Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Xll, 1889, 641 {gilli). 



Body slender and moderately elongate, resembling that of TrUjlops; 

 covered with thin, tough skin. Lateral line armed with spiny tubercles. 

 Spiny scales in a series along the dorsal base. Head subconical, with 

 moderately pointed snout. Mouth small, very slightly oblique; the rami 

 of the mandible a little concave beneath. Premaxillaries protractile; 



