96 BULLETIN 150, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



reverse is true of the majority of the species of Liparis. An exception 

 to the typical compressed head is found in Careprodus curilanus in 

 which species the width of the head is greater than the depth, the 

 cheeks slope outward, and the snout is depressed and ends in a shovel- 

 like projection. The cheeks are typically vertical and the snout 

 short. The profile of the snout may rise gradually or abruptly from 

 the upper lip. The mouth is always horizontal. The interorbital 

 region may be quite narrow, as in C. segaliensis, or broad and flat, 

 as in the spectrum group of species. Of the above characters the 

 depth of the head and the shape of the snout can be the most readily 

 utilized in separating species. 



Nostril. — The posterior nostril is never present in this genus. The 

 anterior nostril typically projects above the surface of the head. In 

 some of the species, as in C. hathycoetus , the nostril tube hardly projects 

 and is less prominent than the posterior nostril in some species of 

 Liparis. The posterior margin of the tube is sometimes raised into 

 a projecting flap, as in Careprodus pycnosoma. The position of the 

 nostril opening varies in its relation to the eye, depending to some 

 extent upon the shape of the head. It may be above the front of 

 the eye or directly in front of the pupil. The writer failed to make 

 any practical use of the character presented by the nostril. This 

 was partially due to the fact that in these fishes the nasal region is 

 frequently collapsed in preserved specimens. 



Eye. — The eye in the species of Careprodus is typically larger and 

 more prominent than in the species of Liparis. It is usually contained 

 from three to five times in the head. In the giant species, such as 

 G. colletti, the eye does not appear especiall}'- prominent. The pupil 

 is round or slightly oval. The pupil varies from being reduced 

 almost to a point, as in C. entargyreus, to enlarged and comprising 

 the major part of the eye. All of this variation can not be due to 

 contraction and expansion of the iris. The color of the eye ranges 

 from black to silvery. In many species, as in C. spedrum, the upper 

 half of the eye is black and the lower half silvery. The silvery 

 pigment frequently disappears in preserved specimens. The size of 

 the eye and pupil and the coloration of the eye can be utilized in 

 distinguishing certain of the species. 



Pores. — The pores are frequently difficult to study on account of 

 the condition of the sldn. In some of the species the pore formula 

 could not be made out. The pore formula 2-6-7-2 appears to be 

 constant for the majority of the species of the genus. In C. sinensis 

 and C. segaliensis, however, the pore formula is modified to 2-5-6-1. 

 This may be true of other species in which the pores could not be 

 studied. The position of the pores varies among the species. The 

 suprabranchial pores may be closed together or widely separated. 

 The posterior pore in C. trachysoma is rudimentary. The upper 



