voi.xiv.j PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 541 



1891. 



are small and iiiuleveloped, not extendirif;' backwards as far as posterior 

 ends of ventrals; in another, 38 centimeters long, tUey are fully de- 

 veloped, and extend backwards as far as origin of anal. 



First dorsal over the ventrals, its base shorter than that of the anal, 

 contained twice in the interspace between dorsals. Its posterior inser- 

 tion is vertically above that of the ventrals. Second dorsal slightly 

 shorter and lower than the first, its base wholly above that of the anal, 

 which overlaps it in front and behind. Base of second dorsal Ij^ iu 

 that of anal. Base of anal twice the space separating it from lower 

 lobe of caudal, and about equaling its distance from ventrals. Height 

 of first dorsal (measured along longest rays) equals distance from tip 

 of snout to front of pupil. 



Caudal not deeply notched, its length equaling distance from tip of 

 snout to fourth or fifth gill slit, and contained 4.\ in total length. 



Head, body, and fins covered with small triangular prickles, with 

 broad base and usually a single backwardly directed point. They arc 

 rather sparsely distributed, except on end of snout and along margins 

 of fins, especially along upi)er edge of caudal, where they are closely 

 crowded to form a dense rough band. These caudal plates are broad 

 and densely overlapping, each with three equal cusi)s. This approxi- 

 mates the arrangement characteristic of Pristiurm, between which and 

 Caiulus this species forms a partial transition. In young specimens 5 

 to G inches long, the band of enlarged prickles on back of caudal has 

 not yet developed. 



Color dark slaty-brown, uniform on head body and fins, the latter 

 without api)reciably lighter margins in some si)ecimens, in others 

 broadly or mirrowly margined with white, or with sjiotsor large irregular 

 areas of whitish. One specimen shows small white spots on dorsal 

 region. 



Described largely from a female specimen, 23 inches long, with well- 

 developed eggs. The egg cases are narrow and flattened, one-third as 

 wide as long, becoming much more narrowed at the posterior than at 

 the anterior end. 



Very abundant in deep water olT the coast of Southern and Lower 

 Calilbriiia, specimens being taken at stations 2891, 2S02, 2890, 2903, 

 2948, and 3()4o, in depths ranging from 184 to (J84 fathoms. 



3. Catulus cephalus sp. nov. 



A number of small specimens, dredged in deep water near the Revil- 

 lagigedo Islands and in the Gulf of California, strongly resemble Gat- 

 uhis .rauiurus, but differ constantly in the following respects: 



The heail appears much wider aiul the snout is shorter, the length of 

 l)reoral ])ortion being less than one-half its greatest width. 



The fins are difiVrent iu relative size and position, the <lorsals being 

 larger, the second dorsal more posteriorly inserted, and the anal snudler. 

 The second dorsal is thus about equal to the anal lu size, and terminates 

 slightlv behind it. 



