2154 Bulletin ^j, United States National IMuseum. 



lated spots between fourth and fifth dorsal spines; pectoral mostly dusky, 

 light at base below, and edged with white; a dusky blotch on outer por- 

 tion of lower caudal lobe. Gulf of California; several specimens taken 

 in shallow water. Length 3i inches. Closely related to Vrionotns xenisma, 

 differing conspicuously in the wholly naked breast and belly. (Gilbert.) 

 (;ki;/U^' 05, naked; 6vf]Boc., breast.) 



Prionotns gymnostethus, GlLUEliT, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1891, 559, Gulf of California. 

 (Coll. Albatross.) 



2482. PIUONOTUS XKXISMA, Jordan & BoUman. 



Head 2i to 2| (3 to 3i in total) ; depth 3J to 3+ (4 to 4^) ; eye 4 in head. 

 D: VIII-11; A. 10; scales in a longitudinal series 60 to 70, about 43 

 oblique series between gill opening and tail; 35 to 40 pores in lateral 

 line. Body short and robust, little compressed, the width of the nape, 

 between occipital spines, 6 to 64 in head; head short and high; eyes 

 prominent; the profile angulated, concave before eye, convex above it; 

 snout short and broad, its breadth greater than its length, which is 2| in 

 head, its anterior margin deeply emarginate, the preorbital produced on 

 each side into a broad, triangular, spiniferous lobe, which is nearly equal 

 to \ diameter of eye. Surface of bones of head finely and densely granular 

 striate. Mouth small, maxillary 3 to 3^ in head, not reaching front of 

 eye. Band of palatine teeth rather broad. Interorbital space narrow, 

 deeply concave and granular striate, its least width 6 to 6A in head; 

 orbital rim elevated, its edges granular serrate; no distinct preorbital 

 spine, whole edge of preorbital finely serrulate ; a groove across top of head 

 behind the blnnt supraorbital spine. Occipital ridges present, the outer 

 granular and not spinous, the inner rather sharply elevated into a short 

 spine, the outer rather wide, extending to second dorsal spine ; temporal 

 region with an elevated roughish ridge, on which are 2 bluntish i)romi- 

 nences; preopercular spine large and strong, with a smaller one at its 

 base; opercular spine long and sharp ; humeral spine usually larger than 

 opercnlar; no spines on suborbital. Breast scaly; membranaceous flap of 

 opercles not scaly. Gill rakers short, slender, longer than interspaces, 

 and about equal to f of pupil ; naked skin of throat with numerous papilL-e ; 

 scales rather small, of about equal size on breast and belly, extending 

 beyond base of ])ectorals, anterior margin forming an obtuse angle; 3 

 or 4 rows of rudimentary scales between occiput and dorsal. Spinous 

 dorsal high, the first spine longest. If to If in head; anterior margin of 

 first 3 spines with numerous granuhe ; second spine slightly more than 2 

 in head, all the spines stout; longest ray of second dorsal shorter than 

 snout, 3^ in head; longest anal ray 3J in head; caudal slightly lunate. 

 If in head; pectorals quite short, reaching fifth ray of second dorsal, 3 

 in body; ventrals reaching anal, 1| in head. Three short granular inter- 

 spinal bones projecting through the skin between first and second 

 dorsal, the anterior less robust than others. Coloration in spirits, grayish 

 (probably red in life); dusky above and irregularly mottled ; a distinct 

 dark spot before base of caudal; dorsal dusky, with a large black, ocel- 

 iated spot between fourth and fifth spines; dorsal spines with a row of 



