552 NEW FISHES FROM PACIFIC COAST GILBERT. 



smaller, those ou top of head about the size of a piu head. On sides 

 these spots are surrounded with reticulations of grayish-silvery, this 

 ground color darker and brownish on upper parts, A dark brown 

 streak behind the maxillary, and one on membrane of premaxillary. 

 Vertical fins light, soft dorsal and anal with brown streaks on mem- 

 branes between the rays on basal half, and a few indistinct brown spots 

 on middle of fin. Caudal brown-spotted, with a narrow white margin. 

 Pectorals light at base, the distal half blackish, with a wide pale border 

 posteriorly. Ventrals with brown streaks along membranes ou inner 

 face. 



A single specimen, about 20 inches long, from La Paz Bay, Lower 

 California. 



16. Bodianus acanthistius sp. uov. 



Characterized by its convex caudal, plain coloration (varied only by 

 a black streak behind maxillary), its comparatively large scales, and the 

 very high spinous dorsal with its deeply incised membranes. 



Head 2| in length ; depth 2f D. IX, 17 ; A. Ill, 9; Lat. 1. (pores) 56; 

 75 oblique series of scales along sides above lateral line. 



Mouth oblique, with mandible strongly projecting, the mandibular 

 canines shutting outside of premaxillaries in closed mouth. Maxillary 

 reaching vertical from behind pupil, its length half that of head. 



Teeth in sides of mandible in two perfectly defined series, separated 

 by a narrow groove-like interval. The outer teeth are nearly erect and 

 rigid, the inner series directed obliquely inwards and very slightly 

 movable (not strictly depressible). A patch of smaller movable teeth 

 at symphysis, with the customary pair of canines in front of them. 

 Premaxillaries with an outer series of strong teeth, terminating anter- 

 iorly in the double pair of eidarged canines. Behind this series is a 

 wide band of minute villiform teeth, only slightly movable. Wide 

 bands of similar villiform teeth on vomer and palatines, the vomerine 

 patch without backward prolongation along median line. Tongue 

 smooth. 



Eye large, equaling length of snout, 5 in length of head. Interor- 

 bital space narrow, convex, 6^ in head. 



Nostrils close together, the posterior round and much the larger, 

 the anterior with a flap. 



Preopercle minutely serrulate on hinder margin, which is convexly 

 rounded. Tliere is a shallow notch above the angle, and the latter is 

 provided with two or three irregular lobes, coarsely toothed, lower 

 margin smooth, entire. 



Gill-rakers long and strong, 17 on horizontal limb of outer arch, 

 the anterior short but scarcely rudimentary. Opercle with three flat 

 spinous points. 



Scales with entire edges, those on opercles and on middle of sides the 

 largest, smaller above lateral line and along ventral outline, becoming 



