PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 69 



DESCRIPTIOIV OF A ViEW H^tKE (PHTCIS EABL.K.II), FROITI SOUTH 

 CAROI.DXA, AIVD A IVOTE OTS TUE OCCURRENCE: OF PHYCIS RFCilUH 

 IN NORTH CAROIilNA. 



By TARLETON H. BEAIV. 



1. Phycis earUii Bean. 



The Uuited States National Museum has just received from Mr. E. E. 

 Earll three specimens of a species of Phycis which differ from all the 

 other recognized eastern American species. It is quite unlike P. tenuis, 

 P. chuss, and P. chesteri, since none of the rays of the first dorsal are 

 produced. In the shape of the anterior dorsal and the general form of 

 the body it resembles P. regius, from which, however, it may be at once 

 distinguished by its much smaller scales. From P. DeKayi Kaup it is 

 well separated by the structure of its anterior dorsal, and by having the 

 ventrals shorter than the head. The species differs also from P. rostratus 

 Gthr. in having a much greater number of scales between the anterior 

 dorsal and the lateral line. 



Mr. Earll secured these fish in the market of Charleston. They were 

 numbered 131 in his collecting invoice, and are catalogued as numbers 

 25207, 25208, and 25209 of the Museum Eegister. The species is dedi- 

 cated to' its discoverer, who first collected it and called attention to its 

 specific distinctness from the four known east coast forms. 



Description. — The species is short and stout, resembling in this re- 

 spect P. regius. The greatest height of the body equals twice the length 

 of the longest ray of the anterior dorsal, and is contained 5 times in the 

 total length, caudal included. The length of the head is contained 3| 

 times in the length of the body, measured to the origin of the middle 

 caudal rays. The length of the snout equals the distance between the 

 eyes. The length of the upper jaw equals half that of the head. The 

 length of the eye is contained nearly twice in length of snout, G^ times 

 in length of head, and nearly 4 times in the length of the postorbital 

 part of the head. The lower jaw is as long as the upper, but is received 

 within it. The maxilla extends somewhat behind the vertical through 

 the posterior margin of the eye. The barbel is J as long as the upper 

 jaw, or nearly so. Both jaws and the head of the vomer are armed with 

 teeth in villiform bands, as in other species of the genus. 



The pectorals are as long as the postorbital part of the head. 



The ventrals extend nearly to the vent, and their length is contained 

 . 4 times in the distance from the tip of the snout to the end of the second 

 dorsal. 



The distance of the anal from the tip of the snout nearly equals the 

 length of the anal base. 



The origin of the anterior dorsal is directly over the axil of the pecto- 

 ral 5 the dorsals are subcontinuous ; none of the rays of the anterior 



