5. EXOCCETtJS. 283 



10. Exoccetus obtusirostris. 



This species is closely allied to E. evolans, but has the snout shorter, 

 and the head more elevated. 



D. 13. A. 13. L. lat. 40. Yert. 26/19. 



The height of the body is one-fifth of the total length (without 

 caudal), the length of the head one-fourth. The depth of the head 

 equals the distance between the extremity of the snout and the hind 

 margin of the pra^operculum, and is two-thirds of its length. The 

 upper profile of the snout descends in as oblique a line as the lower 

 ascends ; it is short, two-thirds the length of the diameter of the 

 eye, which is two-sevenths of the length of the head, and less than 

 the width of the interorbital space, which is quite flat. The pec- 

 toral fin extends to the root of the caudal. Ventral fin midway 

 between end of snout and middle, or last third, of dorsal fiu, termi- 

 nating at a great distance from the vent. The dorsal commences 

 opposite the origin of the anal, its anterior rays being not half as 

 long as the head. There are twenty-four scales between the occiput 

 and the origin of the dorsal, and seven longitudinal series of scales 

 between the origin of the dorsal and the lateral line. Pectoral 

 uniform blackish, with a narrow whitish lower border. Ventrals 

 white. 



Tropical and subtropical seas. 



a, h. Adidt and half-gi-own. Cape de Verde Islands. Presented by 

 the Rev. E. T. Lowe. 



c. Young. New Orleans. 



d. Half-grown. India. Presented by Masters, Esq. 



e. /, g-i. From 7 to 9 inches long. 

 h. HaK-grown. 



I. Many young specimens*. Open sea. 



m. Adult : skeleton. From the Haslar Collection. 



11. Exoccetus chilensis. 



Exoccetus chiliensis, Abbot, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. 18(30, p. 472. 



D. 16. A. 15. 



Body much compressed ; the diameter of the eye is contained twice 



and two-thirds in the length of the head, and is equal to the width 



of the interorbital space. The pectoral extends to the root of the 



caudal ; ventrals very small. The anterior insertion of the analf is 



slightly posterior to the corresponding insertion of the dorsal. {Ahhot.) 



ChiU. The size of the specimens is not stated. 



* It is possible that these young examples ought to be referred to E. evolans. 

 If this be the case, it will be difficult to distinguish between the young of E. evo- 

 lans and E. obtusirostris, both having the snout very short. If the scales are not 

 rubbed off, the greater niunber of scales between the dorsal fin and lateral line in 

 E. obtusirostris may be a guide towards the correct determination of the species. 



+ "Ventral fins " in the original, which is probably merely a slip of the pen. 



