"Ij^ PfiOCEEDINGS OF T HE NA TTONA L MVRFAm. 



pseudobranchiffi present. Gill membranes more orlil^oaclly con 

 nected free from the isthmus. Dorsal fin long- and low, beo-mnin^r 

 near the tip of the pectoral or the middle of body, of slender jomted 

 rays; anal smiilar to dorsal, both connected with the caudal'fin- tail 

 taperm^; pectoral fins small ; ventral fins wantmg. Vent remote from 

 the head without papilla. Vertebra, numerous. As here understood 

 this family consists of a few species of shore fishes of the Pacific. 

 a. Body covered with small .cales; tail pointed, the dorsal and anal united around 

 It; a short superior lateral line al.out I the length of the l,ody. Hknchthys, 1. 



1. HIERICHTHYS Jordan and Fowler, new genus. 

 Hierirhfh,/s Johdax and Fowler, new genus {encryptes). 



Body elongate, compressed, formed much as in 7%oZ/.v, covered with 

 small, smooth scales; a short superior lateral line about ^ the lenj^th 

 ot the body; head compressed, rather pointed, the lower jaw project- 

 ing; mouth moderate, with a single series of strong, moderately large 

 teeth in each jaw. Dorsal and anal low, continuous, of soft slender 

 rays only, fully united with the caudal fin around the pointed tail- 

 insertion of dorsal not far behind the nape; pectorals well developed- 

 no ventrals. Japan. 



{iepov^ a temple, the Greek cognate of J/u/alo. the - Temple Island " 

 where the type species was found.) 



I. HIERICHTHYS ENCRYPTES Jordan .and Fowler, new species. 



Head Oi; depth 10; D. 75; A. 04; P. 10; scales about 82 in a lateral 

 series, about 30 m a vertical series in the middle of the body head 

 Ij in the trunk; head and trunk a little less than twice in tail;'depth 

 of body If in head; eye U in snout, 4f in head, 2 in maxillarv; 

 snout 3^ in head; maxillary 2^; pectorals about 3^. 



Fig. 1— HIERICHTHYS kncryptes. 



Body elongate, deep, and laterally compressed. Head greatlv com- 

 pressed laterally, so that it is little broader than the bodv; the snout 

 sharply pointed and the lower jaw projecting; eves lateraf, rather close 

 together; interorbital space a little more than half the eve, and convex- 

 nostrils on the sides of the snout, the posterior verv near' the front mar- 

 gin of eye; maxillary long and reaching the middle of the eye- teeth 

 moderate^' large, strong, and in a single series in each jaw; tongtie lono- 

 and pointed, free in front; lips rather broad and thick. Gill-openino-s 

 very broad, the membrane forming a free fold over the isthmus " 



