1908 Bulletin ^7, Uyiited States National Museum. 



spinous dorsal, running downward and forward to base of pectorals, tho 

 second under soft dorsal, the third on caudal peduncle; top and sides of 

 head generally dark, with fine light dots or vermiculations; a light 

 streak sometimes present, extending from proopercular spine forward 

 and inward, meeting its fellow immediately behind eyes; this V-shaped 

 mark usually absent or inconspicuous, but sometimes, in young specimens, 

 formed of bright silvery- white pigment; other silvery spots or blotches 

 may occur on the lighter intervals of the back or sides; pectorals, dorsal, 

 and caudal cross-banded ; a black blotch at base of upper and 1 at base of 

 lower pectoral rays; tips of elongate dorsal sjtines of the male black; 

 veutrals and anal unmarked. Coast of Alaska, in Bristol Bay, south of 

 Sannak Island and north of Unalaska, at depths of from 8 to 61 fathoms.* 

 (Gilbert.) 



Artedielliis pacifiens, Gilbert, Kept. TT. S. Fisli Comm. 1893 (1896), 416, south of Sannak 

 Island, at Albatross Station 3216. (Type, in U. S. Nat. Mus. Coll. Gilbert.) 



715. RUSCARIUS, Jordan & Starks. 



Buscarius, Jordan & Starks, Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci. 1895, 807 (meanyi). 



This genus is allied to Icclus, differing iu the stouter, firmer body, and 

 especially in having the back, above lateral line, covered entirely with 

 scattered rough scales, not arranged in a definite band; no naked area 

 below dorsal or iu front of dorsal; 3 or 4 preopercnlar spines, only the 

 upper well developed; no bony plates along l)ase of dorsal; no scales 

 below lateral line; preopercular spine long, bifurcate. Characters other- 

 wise much as in Aricd'ms and Icclus. (ruscariiim, from ruscum, the butch- 

 er's broom, a rough plant, in allusion to the prickly scales.) 



2289. RUSCARIUS ME.lWl, Jordan & Starks. 



Head 2i; depth 3^. D. V-14; A. 12; lateral line 6-32; orbit 4 in head; 

 maxillary 2; snout 4; highest dorsal spine 3; highest dorsal ray 3; pecto- 

 ral 1^; ventrals 2f; caudal 2J. Body robust, deepest and broadest at 

 shoulders, tapering quickly backward into a slender caudal peduncle; 

 back somewhat elevated; the ventral outline nearly straight from chin to 

 caudal fin; dorsal outline gently and evenly curved from snout to caudal 

 peduncle. Mouth terminal and nearly horizontal, maxillary reaching 

 past pupil nearly to posterior edge of orbit; jaws snbeqnal, teeth iu nar- 

 row villitbrm bauds on ,iaws, vomei', and palatines; process of premaxil- 

 lary prominent, extending between and above nasal spines; preopercular 

 spine well developed, forked at tip, the forks small, the inner one the 

 longer, 3 or 4 short spines below on edge of preopercle; opercle ending in 



*Nuraeron.s specimens ^vere taken in 1896 by the Albatross, at Stations 3637, 3638, and 

 3639, otf St. Paul Island, in 32, 34, and 27 fathoms; 3643 and 3644, oti' Provostmaya, Kam- 

 chatka, 1(10 and 96 fathoms; 3647 and 3648, oil' Pobben Island, in 20 fathoms; also taken 

 oti" K ailuk in 1897. Some of these specimens are in better state of preservation and show 

 the lii;iil with iiHire pores than could be made out in tho types. The top of head is thickly 

 stu<ldfd witli these pores, 3 or 4 of which are in the interorbital space. A series of very 

 wide slits alonj; under siirface of mandible, continued to base of preopercular spine. The 

 wide slits along edge of preorbital and on cheek are usually 6 in number. 



