FISHES OF CEARA, P.RAZII. JOKDAX AND BRANNER 



II 



behind, almost fan-shaped, extending to a Httle behind middle of 

 eye; opercle large, with concentric stride, provided with small pustu- 

 lations along the ridges ; top of head flat, narrow, the interorbital 

 space about width of eye; lower jaw with what seem to be traces of 

 long, slender, unequal teeth, but this is not certain. 



Scales ganoid, those of the median series very much enlarged, with 

 parallel edges, the depth of each scale anteriorily 4 

 to nearly 5 times its length, each scale with vertical 

 strife ; about 4 rows of small scales above these, the 

 small scales about as long as deep, impricated. Be- 

 low the large scales are about three rows of smaller 

 ones, those of the upper low largest. Posteriorly 

 the large scales are progressively less deep, and at 

 base of caudal they are scarcely deeper than those 

 of the lowest of the upper rows or the highest of the 

 lower row; 18 scales in a lengthwise series back- 

 ward from the front of dorsal, about 33 anteriorly Fit'- 5-— Scales of 

 from the front of ventral ; the scales in all probably 

 about 60. Bands of scales anteriorly nearly vertical, 

 those posteriorly extending downward and backward 

 enameled, their surface rugose. 



Pectorals placed low, the upper ray broad (the fin broken) ; ven- 

 trals inserted at a distance behind head equal to ij4 length of head. 

 Body tapering backward, subterete, but distinctly compressed, much 

 deeper than broad ; depth at dorsal fin 2^4 in distance from front of 

 dorsal to base of caudal ; dorsal and anal opposite each other, each of 

 about 10 rays ; both fins higher and long, the posterior rays rapidly 

 shortened, caudal broken, evidently strongly heterocercal, with rudi- 

 mentar}' rays at base of each lobe. 



Vertebrae distinctly biconcave, apparently well ossified. Two of 

 the specimens are partly coiled within nodules of stone, their position 

 and armature suggesting millipedes, or even snakes. From our 

 excellent material we have ventured on a restoration of this species 

 (fig. 3). Of these specimens numbers 7, 10, and 27 are in the United 

 States National Museum. 



comptoni. 



Scales all 



