40 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



of the pupil; the maiuliblc nearly to the vertical Croin the po.s!:erior mar- 

 gin of the orbit. The length of the maxillary is about equal to that 

 of the longest ray of the dorsal fin (0.15 to O.IG), that of the mandible 

 (0.19) half the distance from the origin of the anal to the origin of the 

 dorsal (0.38) or to the length of the base of the anal (O.lS). The distance 

 from the tip of the snout to the centre of the orbit (0.13 to 0.13f ) equals 

 the greatest width of the head. The length of the operculum is equal 

 to that of the eye : the opercular striations are fine, but distinct and 

 numerous. The dorsal tin is inserted 'posteriorly to a point equidistant 

 from the snout and the base of the caudal and in advance of the verti- 

 cal from the insertion of the ventrals. Its length of base (0.20 to 0.21|) 

 is double that of the operculum. Its greatest height is nearly half the 

 length of the head. It is composed of 19 rays, of which the third is the 

 longest. Its upper edge is slightly emarginated. The height of the last 

 ray (0.10) is equal to half the length of the base. 



The distance of the anal from the snout is slightly less than three- 

 lourths of the length of the body (0.70-0.72), its length of base (0.18- 

 O.lSi) one-fourth of this distance. The distance from the origin of the 

 pectoral to the origin of the dorsal (0.37-0.37J) is about equal to that 

 from the origin of the anal to that of the dorsal (0.38). Its height 

 (.09-.09i) is about half its length of base, its least height (at last ray) one- 

 third of the same (.06-.05i). The tin is comi)osed of 22 rays, its edges 

 slightly emarginated. 



The caudal fin is much forked and elongate, the middle caudal rays 

 (0.08) half the length of the maxillary, the exterior rays above (0.31-0.32) 

 twice that length, the lower exterior rays (0.35-0.34) nearly equal to 

 twice the length of the mandible. 



The pectoral fin is strong, falcate, inserted under the angle of the 

 subopercnlum, at a distance from the snout (0.35-0.34) about midway to 

 the insertion of the anal. Its tip extends beyond the insertion of the 

 ventrals, its length (0.22) being nearly two-thirds that of the head. 

 The axillary appendages are half as long as the fin, or more. 



The distance of the ventral from the snout (0.54-0.55) is about the 

 same as that of the dorsal, though by the contour of the body it is 

 thrown slightly behind the point of dorsal origin. Its length (0.10) is 

 equal to that of the last ray of the dorsal. 



The scales are quite regularly arranged in about 24 to 25 horizontal 

 and 50 vertical rows. Their free portion is narrow and high. They are 

 entire at the edges, and fluted or crenulated. There are two rows of 

 differentiated scales upon each side of the dorsal line, but they are 

 scarcely pectinated. The scales forming the sheath at the base of the 

 pectoral are large and round. 



Color. — Silvery, with a brassy sheen upon the sides and greenish gray 

 upon the back. 



