^^Vi!^'] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 165 



The soft dorsal is greatly produced at the second to ninth rays, the 

 longest about 1 { in head ; those back of the fifth gradually decrease in 

 length and become more and more directed forward ; the length of the 

 base of the soft dorsal is greater than the head. 



The first anal rays are less i)roduced than the dorsal and are con- 

 tained I's in head ; the base of the anal fin is some shorter than that of 

 the soft dorsal. Pe(!torals short, 2h in head. Upper and lower caudal 

 rays much produced in older specimens. Gill-slit extends from in front 

 of the upper edge of ])ectoral ol)li<piely ni)ward and backward, its upper 

 end being in a vertical line under the first dorsal si)ine. Eight teeth 

 in ea(;h jaw, the middle pair strongest, pointed ami curved, the lateral 

 ones shorter and somewhat double i)ointed. 



Eight specimens, ranging from 150 to 2G0 millimetres in total length, 

 were obtained at Gnaymas, where it is known as Fez de Piterco by the 

 local fishermen. 



110. Spheroides politus Girard. 



Trh-aodon pnUinx Girar.l, U. S. I'ac. R. R. Expl.Ex., Fi8he8, 1859, 340 {Sau Diego, CaJi- 



foniia). 

 For syuonyiiiy, see Jordan & Edwards, Proc. U. S. Nat. Miis. 1H8G, 2:?5, 2;?9. 



Up to the present time only large specimens, 1 foot in length, were 

 known. As these differ from Spheroides testndineus annnlafns in only a 

 few important differences, Jordan & Edwards {loc. cit.) express the 

 opinion that the former may be but the adult of the latter. 



We have compared our specimens with Spheroides testndineus annu- 

 latiis of corresponding sizes, and our specimens, including those from 3 

 inches in length to those of 1 foot, are all entirely smooth^ except occa- 

 sionally one shows a small patch of very small prickles on the breast. 

 The interorbital space is flat in our specimens, concave in /S\ testudinens 

 annulatus ; the small, dark, rouiul s])ots on the sides are much smaller 

 in our specimens. From these facts it would seem that S. politvs nuiy 

 be regarded as a good species. 



The following species have been recorded by others from the Bay of 

 Gnaymas, but were not seen hj us : 



1. Myrophis vafer. Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mas. 1884, 200 {Emerio). 



2. Orthopristis canthariniis. Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mns. 1885, ;579 (Nichols). 



3. CynoscioH olho)ii>i)tcnim. .Jordnn, Proc. U. S. Nat. Miis. 1885, 383 (Nichols). 



4. Cyuosciou m(i<ilo)iuhH. Gil'oert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1890, 04. 



5. Gerres californiensia. Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mns. 1885, 383 (Nichols). 



6. Gohius fioponilor. Jordiui, Proc. IT. S. Nat. Mns. 1884, 200 (Evterie). 



"1. riatophiys li'opardinns. Jordan, Proc. U. S. N.at. Mns. 1884,260 (Emeric) ; ibid., 

 1885, 391 (Emcric). 

 Indiana Statk Nokmal School, Teruk Hautk, Ind. ; 

 I>E Pauw University, Greencastlk, Ind. 



December 15, 1890. 



