408 BULLETIN 189, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



It seems to differ from all the others of the genus in having 2 distinct 

 tentacles, or cirri, on the upper margin of each eye. It differs from 

 the other local species in having 14 instead of 13 rays in the pectoral, 

 and in having a conspicuous dark spot between the second and third 

 dorsal spines. From E. tortugae it differs, further, in the deeper and 

 plumper body, and in the blunter snout, and from E. hudsoni in the 

 much lower spinous dorsal, and in the much smaller ventrals. 



The name bicirrus is in reference to the two cirri attached to the 

 upper margin of each eye. 



Range. — Known only from the type from Lagunilla, Independencia 

 Bay, Peru. 



Family DACTYLOSCOPIDAE: Sand Stargazers 



Body elongate, compressed at least posteriorly; head usually large; 

 eyes small, usually superior, placed well forward; nostrils double; 

 mouth strongly oblique to nearly vertical; premaxillaries protractile; 

 lips fringed; gill opening broad, the membranes separate and free from 

 the isthmus; opercle more or less fringed; suborbital without a bony 

 stay; dorsal fin long, divided or continuous, anteriorly with about 6 

 to 12 simple rays; ventral fins jugular, with a short spine and 3 

 articulated rays. 



A single genus is included in the collections from Peru in the 

 National Museum. 



Genus MYXODAGNUS Gill, 1861 



Body quite slender, the depth being contained about 7 to 10 times 

 in the length; head long; mouth oblique; lower jaw with fleshy tip, 

 pointed, projecting far in advance of upper jaw; eyes rather close 

 together, lateral or directed dorsally slightly; teeth minute, pointed, 

 present only on jaws; dorsal and anal very long, beginning nearly 

 opposite each other, well behind margin of opercle. 



This genus, which previously was known from one species, is rep- 

 resented in the Peruvian collections studied by a second one. 



MYXODAGNUS MACROGNATHUS. new species 



Figure 80 



Myxodagnus opercularis Regan (not of Gill), 1913, p. 279, Lobes de Tierra, Peru, 

 in 8 to 10 fathoms. 



Head to margin of upper jaw 5.0; depth 8.6; D. 40 (or VII, 33); A. 

 II, 37; P. 14; scales 50. 



Body moderately elongate, compressed; head somewhat deeper than 

 long, pointed, convex above; caudal peduncle rather deep, 4.3 in 

 head; eyes nearly lateral, directed upward only slightly, 7.0 in head; 

 interorbital space rather less then diameter of eye; mouth oblique; 

 lower jaw with a pronounced fleshy tip, pointed, extending far in 



