64 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



ries narrow throughont, not liidden beneath tlie preorbital ; posterior 

 extremity of tlie maxillary extending to a little beyond a vertical from 

 the center of the eye. 



Teeth in jaws in a single row, numerous, fine, sharp-pointed, closely 

 and regularly set, those in the upper jaw smaller than thosein th6 lower. 

 No teeth on vomer or palatines. No pharyngeal teeth present. 



Gill-rakers flexible, few, about half as long as the diameter of the feye 

 on the first branchial arch, diminishing on each successive arch. 



Gill-openings continuous under the throat ; branchiostegals six. 



Dorsal commencing at a vertical above the pectoral axil, and consist- 

 ing of 52-55 rays, all soft and flexible, but some of the anterior ones un- 

 branched. Anterior portion of dorsal low, the rays gradually; increas- 

 ing in height posteriorly, the base of the fin terminating opposite to 

 that of the anal, at about 1^ times the least width of the caudal pedun- 

 cle from the origin of the caudal fin; but the longest rays (last but two 

 or three) extending backwards almost to the origin of the central caudal 

 rays. None of the dorsal rays bifurcate more than. once. 



Anal commencing opposite the 24th-27th dorsal ray ; similar to and 

 about equal in depth to the height of the posterior portion of the dor- 

 sal, consisting of 37-40 rays, most of them once bifurcate; its base ter- 

 minating opposite to that of the dorsal, and its longest posterior rays 

 extending backwards even with those of the latter ; three last anal rays 

 diminishing rapidly in length. 



Some of the anterior anal rays appear to be unbranched. 



Caudal elongate, fan-shaped, the central rays longest, and the pos- 

 terior margin greatly rounded. Posterior part of caudal peduncle ex- 

 X)anded, and forming the larger half of an ellipse, around which the rays 

 are set; the central ones straight, the outer ones curving outward and 

 backward. Accessory rays numerous ; principal rays twice bifurcate. 



Pectorals with a fleshy base, having a curved posterior border from 

 which the rays radiate, forming a fan-shaped fin ; the central rays longest, 

 the others diminishing regularly on both sides. All the rays straight ; 

 the seven or eight central ones twice, the others once, bifurcate. 



Ventrals inserted a little behind the base of the pectorals, narrow, con- 

 sisting of a short (spinous?) and four long rays. 



Lateral line conspicuous, curving downwards above the pectoral imtil, 

 a little posterior to the origin of the anal, it reaches the median line of the 

 trunk, along which it continues till it dies out upon the fleehy base of 

 the caudal. 



Groups of small spines along the entire length of the lateral line, the 

 number of spines in each group variable. About 120 groups of spines 

 in the smaller example. No scales upon any portion of the body or fins, 

 but the latter rendered rough by asperities or small spiuules ; a single 

 series along the base of each ray, and a series along each of its branches. 



Color. — Purple spots and blotches of irregular shape upon a yellowish- 

 brown ground ; the spots largest ui^on the dorsal region, and becoming 



