PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 83 



Metoponops Gill is evidently identical with Citharichthys. All the 

 characters usually considered generic agree; and the specific characters 

 given (Proc. Acad. Xat. Sci. Phil. 18G4, 198) are those which properly 

 belong to Citharicldhys sordidus Girard. Girard's description, taken 

 from an immature individual 5i in. long, is in many respects defective; 

 that of Gill approaches much nearer to completeness, but, as it was 

 taken from a single sun-dried specimen, it shows characters which arise 

 from the drying. 



Citharichthys sordidus (Girard) GUnther. 



Fscttichihijs sordidus Gii'ard. 



D. 92-99. A. 72-81. C. 3-11-3. P. 13. V. 6. 



Outline of body sub-ellipsoid, but the dorsal and abdominal outlines 

 not correspondent, the highest point of the former situated over the tip 

 of the pectoral, while the lowest point of the latter is below the base of 

 the same fin. Snout almost continuous with the dorsal outline, which 

 rises rapidly to the highest point in a bold curve, and thence falls with 

 a gently sigmoid curvature to the caudal peduncle. Abdominal outline 

 almost straight to the ventrals, thence with a slight sigmoid curve around 

 the lowest point to the caudal peduncle. Thus the hinder part of the body 

 tapers gradually in a line which becomes shghtly concave, both above and 

 below, as it apx)roaches the caudal peduncle. Greatest depth of body 

 contained 2g- times; length of the head 4^ times in the greatest length; 

 longitudinal diameter of eye about |, snout (measured from the lower 

 eye) about ^ of the length of the side of the head. Distance from origin 

 of anal to lateral line slightly in excess of the length of the head; 

 peduncle of tail short, about ^ of the greatest width, sUghtly widening 

 toward caudal. Eyes elliptical, large, the upper turned somewhat upward, 

 the lower lateral, and about -g- of its longitudinal diameter in advance of 

 the upper ; interocular space equal to about half the transverse diameter 

 of the eye, and made to appear narrower by an elevated ridge, which, 

 commencing on the cheeks, passes along the posterior lower margin of 

 the upper eye, descends obliquely to the upper margin of the lower 

 orbit, and continues to the intermaxillary. A less prominent ridge along 

 the lower margin of the upper eye, merging in the principal ridge where it 

 commences to descend. Thus the anterior and larger i^ortion of the in- 

 terocular area is concave. jS^ostrils of colored side in a lino with the 

 upper margin of the lower eye; anterior nostrils of both sides with a 

 long narrow flap hi front ; posterior simple. The anterior nostril of the 

 colored side has also a raised margin, prolonged somewhat posteriorly. 

 Mouth large, oblique ; extremity of the mandible slightly projecting, and 

 on a level with the upper margin of the pupil of the lower eye when the 

 mouth is closed. The lower border of the mandible almost in a straight 

 line with the anterior part of the abdominal outline. Posterior extremity 

 of the maxdlary extending to a vertical drawn midway between the 



