PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONxiL MUSEUM. 139 



3. Apodichthys fuconun sp. uov. 



Allied to Apodiclithys flavidus Girard, but differing in the form of the 

 anal spine, in the smaller number of fin-rays, and in the smaller size of 

 the pectoral fins. 



Form of head and body and dentition as in Apodiclithys Jiavidus. 

 Mouth very oblique, the maxillary reachmg the vertical from the center 

 of the pupil. Dorsal fiu beginning at a point considerably nearer the 

 nape than the latter is from the end of the snout. Anal spine small, its 

 length about one-fifth that of the head, transversely very convex m front, 

 and dUjhtly concave or grooved behind. Pectoral fins very small, about 

 one-fifth the length of the head. Anal fin beginning nearer base of 

 caudal than tip of snout by about three times the length of the head. 

 Dosal, very constantly, LXXXIII ; A. 33*. 



In Apodichthys Jiavidus the ^dorsal begins as much behind the nape 

 as the latter is behind the tip of the snout. The anal spine is very large, 

 two-fifths the length of the head, and deeply excavated on its anterior 

 surface and very convex behind, the spine being very thin and with shari) 

 edges, resembling a quill-pen. 



Pectoral fins larger, about two-fifths the length of the head. Anal 

 beginning nearer base of caudal than tip of snout by twice the length 

 of the head. Fin rays : D. XCIII ; A. 40. 



The life coloration of Apodichthys fucorum is either bright olive-green 

 or brownish red, becoming in alcohol either bright straw color or Ver- 

 million ; a row of dark spots extending along axis of body, these some- 

 times with |ight-bhiish center, and connected by a very narrow dark 

 streak. Generally a dark streak downward from eye, but no other 

 markings about the head. 



The ground-color of these fishes, whether red, green, yellow, or brown, 

 has no significance in specific distinction. As with many other species 

 of rock-fish, they take the color of their siuToundings. When in masses 

 of Fucus, this species is always olive-green ; when among Chondrus, or 

 other red-brown algae, it is colored like the plants. We have seen 

 Ohgocottus maculosus (which species is ordinarily brownish, mottled, 

 the belly blue) dark grayish red in pools lined with Corallina, deep 

 crimson when surrounded by brighter algae, plain gray in pools w-ith 

 granite bottoms and no plants, and of the most intense grass-greon 

 when taken from among fronds of Ulva. Other fishes imitate exactly 

 the brown branches of the kelp {Macrocystis). Thus the names jiavidus, 

 viresccns, and sanguineus have been successively applied to diiiereutly 

 colored examples of Apodichthys flavidus. 



Our specimens of the latter si)ecies are orange-red, everywhere 

 dusted with minute punctulations. A few pale round sl^ots on axis of 

 body posteriorly. A narrow jet-black bar downward and backward 

 from eye, falling behind the maxillary ; a shorter black streak from eye 

 toward occiput. Anal fin obliquely barred with brownish. 



Apodichthys fucorum is exceedingly abundant about the Point of Los 



