50 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



aud tlie grooves on the top of tlie caudal peduncle ; its length of base 

 (.42) exceeds twice that of the anal (.20). The first and last dorsal spines 

 are extremely inconspicuous, hidden beneath the skin, so that the fish 

 at first appears to liave only five spines. The length of the largest 

 (third) spine is about equal to the diameter of the eye, and does not ex- 

 ceed one-fifth of the height of the body. The height of the second 

 dorsal at its longest ray (.10) equals the length of the snout. 



The insertion of the anal is under the middle of the second dorsal, 

 and is distant from the snout somewhat more than four times the length 

 of the mandible ; its greatest height (.09) is slightly less than the width 

 of the interorbital area ; the length of its base (.20) twice that of the 

 snout; the length of the last rays (.063) is one-tenth of the distance of 

 the snout from the insertion of the fin. 



The caudal is broad, the lobes slender, falcate, equal; their length (.21) 

 about twice the distance from the termination of tlie median rays to the 

 notches on the caudal peduncle (.11). 



The insertion of the pectoral is posterior to the vertical from the origin 

 of the first dorsal ; its extremity reaches to the vertical from the poste- 

 rior termination of the first dorsal ; its length (.13) is contained less than 

 eight times in that of the body and nearly nine times in the distance 

 from the snout to the end of the caudal. 



The ventrals are inserted under the origin of the first dorsal, at a 

 distance from the snout (.295) equal to twice the length of the mandible ; 

 the length of the fin (.13) equal to that of the pectoral, its extremity 

 reaching to the vertical from the insertion of the second dorsal, and to 

 a distance in front of the anal eqiuil to the diameter of the eye. 



Radial formula : B. VII; D. VII, 1, 3(1 ; A. II, 1, 19 ; P. 19 ; V. 6. 



Scales small, as in other members of tlie genus, jiresent upon the 

 cheeks, but not upon the limb of the preoiierculum or the remainder of 

 the head. Lateral line with many curves, straight upon the tail. 



Color bluish above, whitish beneath, a band of greenish yellow as 

 wide as the eye extending from the preopercle to the extremity of the 

 tail. Fins greenish ; traces of bands on the operculum. 



The specimen sent by Mr. Stearns (No. 22325) measures 568 millime- 

 tres (20i inches) to the end of the middle caudal rays, and weighs 6i 

 pounds. Concerning the species, Mr. Stearns writes: '^Xo. 116 is 

 called here by the fishermen 'Amber fish,' and is quite common along this 

 coast in tlie deeper waters, but as they do not bite freely, not many are 

 taken. Those that are cauglit are taken near the surface, as the hook 

 is descending. Throughout the year they are found near the coast, 

 where they probably breed. The specimen sent is rathei' below the 

 average size. By most ])eople it is considered a fine food fisli." 



The name "Amber fish" is applied to tlie fishes of this genus by Eng- 

 • lish-speaking colonies the world over. It alludes to the amber-colored 

 stripe upon the side. 



