i 



20. cnnRYsoPHRYS. 495 



compressed, and its greatest heiglit is nearly one-third of the total 

 The head is relatively rather smaU, its length being one-fourth of 

 the total ; Its mdth between the eyes is 3| in its length. The 

 profile of the nape is strongly curved, and descends abruptly like that 

 of the head, which has a shght protuberance between the eyes. The 

 distance from the occiput to tlie dorsal fin is much longer than to the 

 snout. The snout is moderately elevated, equal to li diameter of 

 the eye ; the upper maxillaiy, which is nearly entirely hidden bv 

 the prworbital, reaches to the vertical from the anterior margin of 

 the orbit. The pra^orbital has the maxillaiy edge slightly emar- 

 ginate, and is li as long as high. The nostrils are placed before 

 the upper angle of the orbit and remote from each other ; the pos- 

 tenor is an elongate slit, the anterior a very small ovate opening 

 There are five series of scales between the praorbital and the angle 

 of the pra3oi)erculum ; the inferior hmb and the angle are naked. 

 Operculum, sub- and interoperculum covered A\'ith scales ; the foi-mer 

 has the posterior point not prominent. The suprascapula is striated, 

 hke the series of scales ascending to the nape of the neck. 



The origin of the dorsal fin falls vertically above the root of the 

 pectorals, and its end above the 34th scale of the lateral line. The 

 spines are strong, compressed, and much broader on one side : the 

 first IS two-fifths of the second ; the fourth is the longest, nearly 

 one-half of the length of the head ; the following gi-adually decrease, 

 the last being about two-thirds of the fourth. The soft portion of 

 the fin IS rather lower than the spinous, and has the posterior extre- 

 mity rounded ; the fifth and sixth rays are longest, and about three- 

 quarters of the longest spine. The distance between the dorsal 

 and caudal fins is rather less than the depth of the tail beneath 

 the extremity of the dorsal fin. The caudal fin is emarginate, with 

 pomted lobes ; one of the middle rays is one-half of one of the outer 

 ones. The origin of the anal fin falls vertically below the fifth dorsal 

 ray, and its end a little behind that of the dorsal fin. The first spine 

 IS veiy short ; the second is equal to the fourth dorsal spine, though 

 stronger; the thii-d is more feeble and shorter. The anterior rays 

 equal the third spine, and the posterior ones gradually become 

 shorter. The j>ff/ow7 fin is elongate, and reaches to the origin of 

 the soft anal, the fourth ray exceeding the othere in length. The 

 ventrals are much shorter ; they are inserted behind the pectorals, 

 and do not extend to the vent ; the si:)ine is compressed and rather 

 strong, about three-quarters of the adjacent ray. 



The scales are minutely ciliated, higher than long, neariv elliptical 

 but for the posterior margin, which is straight ; one of the largest 

 covers four-fifths of the eye. 



There are six canine-like teeth in each of the jaws, with a viUiforra 

 band behind them. The outer series of the lateral ones is foniicd by 

 rather conical teeth. There are four series in the upper jaw. the 

 posterior teeth gradually becoming larger ; the posterior tooth of the 

 third .series is the largest of all. There are thi-ee series onlv in the 

 lower jaw, which have the largest teeth also posteriorly ; but there 

 are several other small ones at the hindmost extremity of the jaw. 



