648 COXTKIBUTIOXS TO XOETII AJIEEICxVN ICHTHYOLOGY IV. 
354.— OXYLEBIUS Gill. 
(Gill, Proc. Acad. Xat. Sci. Phila. 1862, 277: type Oxijlclnus pictus Gill.) 
Body oblong, somewhat compressed. Uead conical, very slender, 
acuminate, the profile somewhat concave. Mouth small. Jaws each 
with a band of teeth, the outer series eonsiderablj’^ enlarged; minute 
teeth on vomer; few or none on palatines. Top of head with dermal 
flaps. Preopercle with 2 blunt s])ines. Gill-membranes broadly con- 
nected, free from the isthmus; gill-rakers short, not very stout. Scales 
small, ctenoid. A single lateral line. Dorsal tin emarginate, with about 
16 low, rather strong spines; soft dorsal moderate, its membrane closely 
scaled; anal with 3 stout spines, the second the longest; caudal trun- 
cate; pectorals rather long, their bases not procurrent; ventrals moder- 
ate, inserted well behind pectorals. Pyloric coeca few. Small fishes, of 
bright coloration. sharp; XsiScaq — Lebius, an old synonjun of Ilex- 
agrammus, from IsjStac;, a kind of small fish suitable to be cooked in 
/ij/S/jv, a kettle.) 
1004. O. pictMS Gill. t 
Tawny grayish, with about 6 black bars, alternating with areas of 
pale orange, the latter obscured by dusky spots and blotches; the dark 
bars extending on the fins, the first across the nape, the second across 
the middle of the spinous dorsal, the third broader, across posterior i^art 
of spinous dorsal and front of anal; one across middle of soft dorsal, oue 
on posterior part, and one at base of caudal; the bars are about as wide 
as the interspaces, and their edges are irregular, but sharply defined ; 
pectorals and caudal orange, with cross-series of spots ; ventrals largely 
black; under side of head orange, freckled, spotted with pale; 2 fringed 
cirri over each eye, scarlet; breast and belly marbled. Body rather deep, 
compressed. Ilead little compressed, slender, i)ointed; lips thick; lower 
jaw slightly included ; maxillary small, barely reaching eye. Eyes large, 
about equal to snout, 4 in head; nasal sjjines present; interocular space 
narrow. Scales on sides of head very small; scales on body small, 
ctenoid, with strong horizontal striae, those on breast minute. Dorsal 
tin continuous, its spines stiff, the middle ones highest, and all con- 
siderably lower than the soft rays; second anal spine longer than the 
third, about equal to the soft rays; pectorals barely reaching anal; 
ventrals to past vent. Dead 3J; depth 3^. D. XVl-15; A. Ill, 13. 
L. 10 inches. Eocky shores, from Monterey northward; rare. A most 
beautiful and active little fish. 
(Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862, 277.) 
