350 DESCRIPTIONS OF A.PODAL FISHES GILBERT. 



this respect with its near ally, Leptocephalus conger. Opiiisoma anago 

 may also be properly referred to this species. 



The specimen from Cape St. Lucas, catalogued by Jordan and Gil- 

 bert as LeptocephaJus conger (Procs. U. S. Nati(;nal Museum, 1882, 

 378), has been reexamined by me and found to belong to this species. 

 L. conger is therefore as yet unknown from our Pacific coast. 



The following is a detailed description of the Pacific specimens: 



Cleft of mouth scarcely reaching to below middle of eye, 3i in 

 head. Lower jaw shorter than the upper, but less so than in related 

 species; the lips thin, and the upper not forming a projecting probos- 

 cis. Posterior nostril a short linear slit in front of the eye; the ante- 

 rior with a very short tube near tip of snout. Teeth small, conical, 

 sharp, uniform in size, in broad bands in mandible and on vomer, ex- 

 tending back on shaft of vomer in a narrow, Vsl^'iped patch, which 

 does not reach beyond posterior nostril. Maxillary with a narrow band 

 or irregular double series. None of the teeth enlarged. 



Length of the gill slit two thirds the diameter of eye, and equal to or 

 slightly less than the interspace between the two slits. 



Head 2^ to 2| in body, 5^ to (J in total; the vent nearly median. 



Dorsal beginning in advance of gill-slit, the occiput midway be- 

 tween front of dorsal and posterior margin of pupil Pectorals rather 

 long, 2'^ in head. 



Color light olive, with minute dusky specks. Margins of vertical 

 fins narrowly black. Head more or less silvery on sides and below, 

 with a distinct dusky blotch below orbit. Eye silvery below, the iris 

 otherwise dusky. 



Ophisonia prorigerum, sp. uov. 



Related to 0. mystax and 0. nitens, difl'ering from the former in the 

 much smaller eye and from the latter in the much shorter tail. 



Snout long and shari), the acute soft tip protruding beyond the man- 

 dible ibr over two thirds the length of orbit. 



Mandibles very broad and strong; the gai)e decurved posteriorly, 

 reaching to vertical from posterior margin of pupil. A conspicuous 

 pore just behind angle of mouth. Distance from tip of snout to angle 

 of mouth one third distance to base of pectorals. 



Teeth villiform, in broad bands, none of them enlarged. A trans- 

 verse groove behind head of vomer to receive tip of mandible. 



Posterior nostril slit-like, the anterior on each side of tip of snout 

 with a short distinct thin membranous tube. 



Mucous pores small, several at tip of snout, and three in upper lip, 

 the posterior one distinct from the others and below front of pupil. 



Eye small, one-half of snout, 8^^ in head, slightly less than length of 

 gill-slit. 



Head equal trunk, one third the length of tail without fin ; depth 

 onethiiteenth of total length. 



