16 BULLETIN 10 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



DAMPIERIA MELANOSTIGMA, new species 



Depth 2% to 31/3; head 3l^ to 33/5, width 1% to 2iV. Snout 

 314 to 4 in head from upper jaw tip; eye 4 to 4%, 1 to I14 in snout, 

 greater than interorbital in young to subequal with age ; maxillary 

 reaches eye, vertically inclined, expansion 1% to 2% in eye, length 

 2l^ to 21/^ in head from upper jaw tip; 4 canines in front of each 

 jaw, variable, sometimes only 3 above and median lateral sometimes 

 as several well developed one on side of jaw; teeth in villiform 

 bands, with outer enlarged row laterally; narrow band of villiform 

 teeth across vomer; interorbital 4^4 to 6, convex. Gill rakers 5 + 9, 

 lanceolate, robust, short. 



Tubular scales 53 to 57 in upper section of lateral line, 17 or 

 18 + 2 or 3 in lower section; 6 or 7 scales above lateral line, 20 or 21 

 below, 26 or 27 predorsal ; 8 to 10 rows of scales vertically on cheek. 



^^'^: '"^a-^ir^o^Z-^^^ 



.^^ m. m. 



Figure 2. — Dampieria melaxostigmAj new species. Type 



Scales with 10 to 15 basal radiating striae ; 60 to 86 apical denticles 

 with 2 series of basal elements ; circuli very fine. 



D. II, 25, I, second spine 4'% to 5i/^ in total head length, twenty- 

 third ray I14 to 1%; A. Ill, 14, i, third spine 4 to 5, twelfth ray 

 11/^ to 1% ; least depth of caudal peduncle 1-^ to 2^^ ; pectoral 1% 

 to 1%; ventral I14 to 1%; caudal 3 to 3i/4 in combined head and 

 body, convex behind. 



Burnt umber generally, variably lighter or darker. Often most of 

 posterior portion of body pale to light yellowish or buff. Head with 

 about a dozen oblique deep brown lines, variably distinct, mostly on 

 cheek; others more or less as spots or bars above. Sometimes same 

 appearance on predorsal and upper front part of trunk or as dusky 

 spot to each scale. Trunk and tail variably with 10 blackish longi- 

 tudinal lines, one medianly in alternating rows of scales. Edges of 

 soft dorsal and anal narrowly dusky to black. Soft dorsal with 



