1892 Bulletm ^7, United States National Museum. 



shoulder. Dorsal series of scales rather short, longer than head, extend- 

 ing from opposite fifth dorsal spine to hase of third to last ray of soft dor- 

 sal, this series usually becoming single for a short distance posteriorly, 

 and containing about 19 in a series ; a few scattered spinous plates behind 

 axil of pectorals ; the 2 anterior dorsal spines filamentous in males, not 

 elevated in females, in our specimens extending, when elevated, to mid- 

 dle of soft dorsal. Ground color varying with surroundings from oliva- 

 ceous to bright coral red ; a broad l)lack bar below eye, and 4 across back ; 

 1 under spinous dorsal, 2 under soft dorsal, and 1 across caudal peduncle; 

 belly white, the dark bars encroaching on region below lateral line ; males 

 darker than females, with black punctulations covering sides and below ; 

 the branchiostegal membranes, the lower f of pectorals, the venti-als, and 

 anal black; spinous dorsal irregularly blotched or mottled with black; 

 soft dorsal, caudal, and terminal portion of pectorals (in females) with 

 dark cross bars. Length 3^ inches. Coast of southern California; nu- 

 meroiis specimens obtained by the Albatross in 44 and 30 fathoms. (Gilbert.) 

 (cavus, concave; from, forehead.) 



Icelimis cavifrons, Giibert, Proc.U. S.Nat. Mns. 1890, 83, off Santa Barbara Islands, at 

 Albatross Stations 2907 and 2945, in 44 and 30 lathoms. (Type No. 44405.) 



2273. TARANDICHTHTS FILAMENTOSUS (Gilbert). 



Head 2£; depth 4| to 4|; eye 4f in head. D. X-16 or 17; A, 14 or 15. 

 Body shaped as in Icelinus quadriscriatus, but heavier; caudal peduncle 

 f diameter of orbit ; mouth small, maxillary not reaching vertical from 

 middle of pupil, 2i in head. Teeth in broad bauds on jaws, vomer, and 

 palatines. Interorbital space not narrow, grooved, its width more than 

 i diameter of orbit; preopercular spine strong, f diameter of orbit, with a 

 short terminal point and 3 or 4 strong upwardly directed barbs, curved 

 slightly forward ; below this 3 short simple sjiines directed downward, 

 and downward and forward ; nasal spines strong, occiput with a broadly 

 rounded ridge, ending behind in a rather blunt point ; no pit behind eyes ; 

 no other spines on head. Gill membranes broadly joined, free from isth- 

 mus. A simple slender filament at base of nasal spine, a conspicuous one 

 on tip of maxillary, 2 on occipital ridge, 3 on preopercular margin, an 

 inconspicuous one near base of opercular flap ; a large black supraocular 

 flap, about as long as diameter of pupil. Body armed essentially as in 

 quadriscriatus; the upper series of plates double throughout, beginning 

 under third or fourth dorsal spine and terminating under last dorsal ray, 

 28 or 30 in each series ; 36 or 37 plates in lateral line, their posterior bor- 

 ders occasionally with a slender white filameixt; axil of pectoral with 

 from 2 to 6 half-embedded spinous plates ; skin otherwise smooth. Fins 

 large, the spinous dorsal with the first 2 rays produced into long slender 

 filaments, which reach beyond middle of soft dorsal, and are mucli longer 

 than head, the membrane between these not iticised, and they are not sep- 

 arated from rest of fin ; dorsals not connected, the longest ray of soft dor- 

 sal nearly ^ head; pectorals not long, 1^ to 1| in head; ventrals about 

 i head. Olivaceous above, white below; a distant black blotch under 



