1888.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 151 



the opercle, while the upper and weaker one diverges from it at an 

 angle of about thirty degrees and extends to the lateral line ; the length 

 of each of these spines is equal to the diameter of the eye. 



There are live preopercular spines, the uppermost one much the 

 largest, in a line with the suborbital ridge, and with a very small spine 

 on its ridge near the middle ; the second, or next spine below, is very 

 short and inconspicuous ; the third is short and broad and projects 

 slightly downwards ; the fourth is smaller than the third and is inclined 

 still more downwards ; while the fifth is still smaller and projects nearly 

 at right angles with the first. 



The suborbital ridge prominent, bearing two small spines, the ante- 

 rior one directly beneath the pupil the other at anterior edge of the 

 preopercle. 



Origin of spinous dorsal a little in front of opercular flap, its distance 

 from snout three times in body to base of caudal ; first spine short, less 

 than snout in length; second spine equals eye; third equals distance 

 from tip of snout to middle of pupil ; fourth, fifth, and sixth each a little 

 longer; the remaining four gradually shorter, the eleventh about as long 

 as first, thus making the fin emarginate; all rather strong and pun- 

 gent; the next spine sleuder, greater than eye in length; the ten soft 

 rays moderate, about equal to third spine in length; distance from base 

 of dorsal to caudal not equal to height of the former. Anal moderate, 

 its height a little greater than its length, its origin under beginning of 

 soft dorsal ; the first spine shorter than second spine of the dorsal, the 

 second much stronger and longer, one-half length of head, longer than 

 longest dorsal spine ; third more slender, shorter, about equal to longest 

 dorsal; soft rays about equal to longest spine; anal and dorsal fins 

 equally distant from the caudal. 



Pectorals long, 1.3 in head, their tips just passing first anal spine, in- 

 serted a little in advance of the ventrals and much below the axis of the 

 body; the upper rays branched. 



Ventrals close together, moderate, just reaching vent. Caudal mod- 

 erate, about equal to the pectorals in length. 



Cheeks well scaled, opercles nearly naked, occipital region with a few 

 poorly developed scales; body covered with moderate cycloid scales, 

 about 47 in longitudinal and 2L in transverse series; the lateral line 

 begins at the upper angle of the opercle, then curves downward to a 

 line vertical from the tips of the ventrals, and then upward to near the 

 middle of base of soft dorsal, from which it is nearly straight to the 

 caudal fin; but few dermal flaps upon scales. 



Coloration, in alcohol : Body pale below, dark above, mottled with 

 darker; head dark, snout and jaws covered with fine punctulations; 

 a dark blotch between the eyes, an irregular blotch extending from 

 below eye to edge of opercle, and another on suborbital just below pupil. 

 Spinous dorsal with three dark blotches at base extending onto the 

 body, outer edge mottled with black; soft dorsal with a dark spot at 



