232 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 02 Vol. 2 



1.8; least depth of body 2.2 to 2.5; all in length of head. Distance 

 between anterior and posterior nasal openings 4 to 8 in snout. Eye 

 0.5 to 1.1 in interorbital space. 



Dorsal profile of head forming an angle of 65 to 70 degrees with 

 ventral contour of head; pectoral fin reaching to opposite about tenth 

 lateral line pore; pelvics with outer rays elongate, reaching to or 

 nearly to anus; distal margin of caudal fin rounded to truncate. 



Color in alcohol. — Background coloration whitish; dorsal fin more 

 or less transversely barred, sometimes these bars interconnect to 

 enclose roundish white spots; a black ocellate spot occurs between the 

 first to third soft dorsal rays, this black spot is closer to distal edge 

 of fin than the base; caudal fin plain pale, or with indistinct bars; 

 sometimes these bars interconnect to enclose roundish white spots; 

 a black spot, as small as or smaller than pupil occurs between the 

 first and second dorsal spines, occasionally this spot extends a trifle 

 on the membrane between the second and third spines. A specimen 

 20 mm. in standard length has traces of 3 dusky blotches on sides 

 and the two dorsal dark spots are present; body otherwise pale except 

 for a short dusky bar behind orbit; pelvic and pectoral fins plain 

 pale or whitish. 



The color markings on the head are as illustrated in figure 103. 

 The chief characteristics of these markings are: (1) the long dark 

 streak across cheek; (2) the dark bar just below streak (1), curving 

 ventrally on opercle between black opercular spot and the rear end 

 of the streak (1) on check; (3) the characteristically shaped blackish 

 bar just behind eye; (4) characteristic pattern of dark areas on dorsal 

 surface of head. A white bar occurs on base of pectoral, and another 

 bar in axil of pectoral extending from below black opercular spot and 

 ending in a point just below axil; sometimes 3 narrow white bars are 

 visible on lower sides under pectoral fin, these occur on rows of scales 

 at eighth, ninth and twelfth lateral-line pores. 



On males, some of the scales on sides and back have the central 

 basal part dark brownish, distal half whitish, the dark spots arranged 

 in patches to form 4 or 5 blotches along sides and back; anal fin of 

 adults 60 mm. and longer with a pale or white band through middle 

 third, distal third dusky, basal third dusky, with whitish round area 

 on each interradial membrane. 



On females, the darkish areas on scales are arranged so that a 

 reticulated pattern occurs, giving the appearance of white spots sur- 

 rounded by darkish, these follo^ving the lengthwise rows of scales; 

 the darkish pigment is intensified in certain areas to form about 4 or 

 5 darkish blotches as in males; lower sides whitish or pale; anal fin 

 plain pale or whitish, the narrow reddish bars occurring in living 

 specimens disappear completely in alcohol. 



