344 



PIU!STIPOMATID.E. 



lower profile ascends more suddenly than the u^jper descends. The 

 length of the head is 3^ in the total, without caudal fin, or one-fifth 

 of the same length, that fin included. The snout is shorter than the 

 diametei- of the eye, the upper maxillary extending to the anterior 

 margin of the orbit. The groove for the processes of the intermaxillary 

 bones is short, quadrangular, with a posterior and anterior angle 

 and two lateral ones ; it does not extend beyond the vertical fi-om the 

 anterior margin of the eye, and is entirely scaleless, as is the inter- 

 space between this groove and the orbit. The upper surface of the 

 head is covered with large scales, to between the anterior part of 

 the distance between the eyes. The nostrils are placed high up the 

 sides, nearer the eye than the end of the snout ; they are rather 

 prominent, with the posterior opening ^\ider. The prajorbital is 

 entirely scaleless : anteriorly broad, it is narrowest between the 

 maxillaiy and the orlnt. The scales of the cheeks are rather smaller 

 than those of the body, and extend on the mandibula, there forming 

 a narrow stripe immechately behind the maxillary. The praeoperculnm 

 has a vertical posterior margin ; the angle and the inferior limb are . 

 rounded, without any denticulations ; the scales of the cheeks do not 

 extend over its limbs. The operculum is irregularly quadrangular ; its 

 posterior side is emarginate ; the inferior straight, slightly ascending 

 backwards. The sub- and interoperculum arc, like the operculum, 

 covered Avith deciduous scales ; their inferior margins are convex. 



The dorsal fin is not very deeply notched ; the length of the base 

 of the spinous portion is shorter than of the soft, and its distance 

 from the caudal is one-fifth only of that from the end of the snout ; 

 its origin is above tlie base of the pectoral, and its end a little before 

 the vertical from the end of the anal fin. The spines are slender, 

 and the anterior ones flexible : the first is minute ; the second and 

 third are the highest, and 2i in the depth of the body ; the fourth, 

 fifth and sixth decrease in length, the last foiu' being nearly equal, 

 and one-half of the thii'd. The fii'st ray is higher than the preceding 

 spine, the other rays not difi'ering veiy much from it in height, and 

 forming together a slightly convex margin, with the membrane 

 between deeply notched. There are eleven soft rays in one specimen, 

 in the other ten. The caudal fin is deeply forked, the middle 

 and shortest ray being 3^ in the length of one of the outer and 

 longest rays ; the upper lobe is scarcely longer than the lower, and 

 one-fourth of the total length ; small, thin, and deciduous scales 

 extend over the basal third of each lobe. The origin of the anal fin 

 falls below the sixth dorsal ray, and its end a little behind that of 

 the dorsal ; the length of its base is more than its distance from 

 the caudal, and equals five-eighths of the length of the head ; it 

 moves, like the dorsal, in a scaly sheath. The anterior spine is 

 minute ; the second stronger tlian the stoutest of the dorsal ; the 

 third is more slender, but longer than the second, and about one- 

 fourth of the height of the body. The first ray is rather longer than 

 the preceding spine, and the following rays diminish in lengih, so as 

 to form a concave margin of the fin. 



The i>ccto)-al fin is elongate, the middle rays being the longest ; it 



