58 PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



UESCRIPTIOX OF A IVEW^ FISH FR03I ALASKA (VRANIDEA ITIECROS. 



TOjfIA). 



By W. ]V. LOCKIWGTOW. 



Uranidea microstoma. 



Body loug aud low, little coinpressed. 



Head depressed, rather small, wider than deep ; anterior portion of 

 body about equal in width and depth, somewhat llattened on back near 

 head, and gradually becoming more and more compressed posteriorly. 



Dorsal outline regularly arched, its highest point at origin of first 

 dorsal ; abdominal outline nearly straight in some examples. 



Head about 4f to 4^; breadth of same 5J to 4i times in the total 

 length ; orbit about 5, snout 4 to 3J times in the length of the head. 



Eyes directed upwards, elliptical, the orbits not elevated above the 

 general surtiice ; interorbital width nearly equal to the transverse diam- 

 eter of the orbit. 



Mouth short, small compared with others of the genus ; posterior 

 extremity of maxillary a little beyond the front margin of the orbit; 

 ui)i)er margin of maxillary hidden behind the preorbital in the closed 

 mouth, except the short, broad, posterior extremity, which is free. 



Lower jaw shorter than the upper, and closing within it. 



A broad band of villiform teeth in front of both jaws. 



Teeth on vomer, none on palatines. 



Snbopercular spine much developed, directed forwards; preoper- 

 culum ending in a single sharp, straight spine ; branchiostegals 5. 



First dorsal commencing a little behind the pectoral base, low, the 

 upper margin nearly straight ; height less than that of second dorsal, 

 the rays nearly equal in length. 



Second dorsal commencing above the vent, first ray shorter than the 

 second ; upper margin a straight line, the height of the fin diminishing 

 regularly but slowly posteriorly. 



Anal shorter than second dorsal, commencing opposite the third and 

 ending opposite the seventeentli ray of that fin ; anteriorly rounded, 

 the rays increasing to the fourth, thence somewhat diminishing poste- 

 riorly ; depth greater than the height of the second dorsal. 



Pectoral wedge-shaped, seventh ray longest ; rays fleshy, simple ; tip 

 of seventh ray reaching about to the vent. 



Ventrals inserted a little behind insertion of pectorals, the tips not 

 reaching the vent, consisting of one spine and four rays ; second, third, 

 and fourth rays longest. 



Caudal slightly convex on its posterior margin when expanded ; the 

 rays twice bifurcate, first bifurcation at about a third of their length 

 from the base. 



Vent not separated from the anal fin by any considerable space ; rays 

 simple. 



