250 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Lateral line contiuiious to end of caudal peduncle, not very conspic- 

 uous; tubes simple. From its origin to above the pectoral it curves 

 downwards, tbence follows parallel to the dorsal outline till it reaches 

 the caudal peduncle, along which it is median. 



Scales of body small, stronglj^ ctenoid, larger upon hinder part of 

 trunk and on caudal peduncle than anteriorly, and smallest on head and 

 under pectoral base. Scales elongate, almost rectangular, but with the 

 free margin convex, imbedded portion striated. Entire surface of gill- 

 covers, branchiostegal rays, mandibles, maxillaries, preorbitals, and 

 snout scaly, the only scaleless portions being the lips and the portions 

 of the gill-membrane folded up between the rays. A shallow, scaleless 

 groove at sides of 1st dorsal. 



The vertical fins, except the spinous dorsal, covered almost to the tips 

 of the rays with similar but smaller scales, and the paired fins similarly 

 covered on their exterior surfaces. 



A band of small scales along some of the anterior spines of the 1st 

 dorsal. 



Dorsal region and head, to the level of the upper margin of maxillary 

 and of pectoral fin, black ; four broad transverse black stripes between 

 pectorals and caudals. 



The spaces between these bands, the abdomen, and the lower part of 

 the head white. 



The 1st band is at about the center of the length of the pectoral, and 

 fades out level with the lower margin of that fin ; the 2d is anterior to 

 the vent, and almost encircles the body; the 3d continues to the anal 

 base,' but is much lighter on its lower portion ; while the 4th encircles 

 the caudal i)ed uncle. 



A 5th but narrower black band encircles the caudal base, and two 

 black bands cross the caudal, the posterior one broadest ; rest of caudal 

 white. All the other fins banded or blotched irregularly with black and 

 white, the former predominating. The ctenoid tips of thg scales are white. 



I have onl}' seen a single specimen of this fish. Before the description 

 was written it was exposed to alcohol for about two mouths. 



It was obtained in San Francisco market August, 1879, and was taken 

 in Monterey Bay. 



In ax)pearance it somewhat resembles some of the small-scaled Serra- 

 nid(€ or Rhypticidcv. The presence of a suborbital stay, however, shows 

 that its atfinities are really with the Ghiridw. 



Dimensions of type {No. United States National Musnem). 



Inches. 



Total leugth, to tip of caudal 11.75 



Greatest depth, about 3.25 



Greatest thickuess, at opercles 1.72 



Depth of caudal peduncle, about .9H 



Leugth of head 3.02 



luterorbital width 1.05 



Leugth of snout .77 



