34 



l-I.ATFISHES (HETEROSOMATA) 



Depth of body Jj to ij in the length, length of head nearly 4, Upper profile of 

 head straight or with a very shallow notch in front of upper eye. Snout about as 

 long as eye, diameter of which is 4 to nearly 5 in length of head : interorbital width 

 greater than diameter of eye (mature J), much narrower and about equal to pupil ($) ; 

 anterior margins of eyes about level (5) or lower in advance of upper (jj) ' upper eye 

 close to edge of head. Maxillary extending to below middle of eye, length 2 1 to 25 in 

 that of head : lower jaw about twice in head. Anterior teeth in upper jaw more or 

 less enlarged, but not forming distinct canines. 7 or 8 gill-rakers on lower part of 

 anterior arch. 52 to 57 scales in lateral line ; supplementary scales not numerous. 

 Dorsal 80-88. Anal 63-68, Pectoral of ocular side with 12 rays, the two upper rays 

 prolonged and filamentous m the male. Caudal double-truncate. Brownish, with 

 or without indefinite darker spots and blotches : dorsal and anal fins with dark dots 

 and with a row of brown spots ; caudal fin with large irregular dark spots ; pectoral 

 (rj) with dusky cross-bars. 



TvPH. — British Museum (Nat, Hist.). Keg No. 64.1.26.348. 



Distribution. — Pacific coast of tropical .\merica. 



Specimens Ex.'^mined ; 



I ($, 1^5 mm.). (,ulf of t;ihfoi-nia. U.S. Nat. Mus. 



1 (?, 165 ,, ). Hololvpe I'acilic 1 oast of Panama. Salvin. 



2 ($, 158, 170 mm.). Panama. Jordan. 

 .!(?, 95-150 ,, ). Mazatlan. 



I (130 mm.), skeleton. 



Col. Tenison has examined the type of Syacium latifrons, and informs me that this 

 is without any doubt the male of the species described by Giinther as ovale Apart 

 from the form of the teeth, 5. ovale is very close indeed to .S". papillosum of the Atlantic 

 coa.st. 



(ienus 13. CYCLOPSETTA. 



lyclnpsella, Cill, i88q. Prof. U.S. Nat. Mus., xi. (i.SH,S), p. 601 \Hctinthiimbm jimhrmlui, (jooiie and 



Bean]. 

 Aztvm, (Jordan) Jordan and (loss, i.^.S.,, Kep. U.S. Com. Fish., xiv, (18S6), p.. 271 [C ttharicMhys 



panamensts, Stemdachner]. 



Close to Syactunt, Eyes separated by a flat space, which is narrow or of moderate 

 width and similar in both sexes. Mouth large, the length of the maxillary J or nearly J 

 that of head ; lower jaw included ; teeth uniserial in both jaws ; lateral teeth of upper 

 jaw of moderate size, a pair of canines anteriorly ; teeth of lower jaw all strong, 



