PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 265 



wards, concealed in tbe skin. A concealed downward-directed spine 

 below this. A downward-directed spine on front of opercle below. 



Skin comparatively tliin and loose. Lateral line complete and contin- 

 uous. 



Dorsal fins connected by a membrane about lialf the height of the first 

 dorsal. Dorsal spines low and weak, nearly uniform in height, the mid- 

 .dle spines very slightly higher than the others, the highest less than the 

 diameter of the eye, the two anterior close together. The spines all 

 very slender. The enveloping membrane very thick. 



Soft dorsal nearlj- twice as high as the spinous part. Anal about as 

 high as second dorsal, its rays more robust. Pectoral fins rather broad 

 and short, strongly procurrent below, the lower rays thickened. Long- 

 est rays reaching past vent to beginning of second dorsal. No trace of 

 ventral fins, either externally or under the skin. 



Fin rays: Dorsal IX or X-18 or 19; A. 13; P. 16. 



Anal papilla very small. Six pyloric cseca. Intestines short, about 

 as long as body, with one flexure. Stomach filled with Chiton, Patella, 

 small Crustacea, snails, and worms. 



Coloration olivaceous, usually rather dark, and shadeilwith greenish, 

 but sometimes with whitish saddle-like blotches, one on each side of the 

 head, one on preopercle, one at front of dorsal, one most conspicuous 

 opposite the junction of the two dorsals, and two smaller ones under sec- 

 ond dorsal. On most of the specimens these markings are but faintly 

 indicated. Belly somewhat dusky. Lips, in most specimens, edged with 

 vermilion, especially the lower. 



Spinous dorsal fin dusky, black in the middle and in front above, with 

 a conspicuous edging of hright crimson. This marking is rarely faint or 

 obsolete. Soft dorsal, anal, and caudal dusky, edged with paler. Pec- 

 toral dusky, edged with paler, and slightly barred at base, especially in 

 the paler specimens. 



This species is known to.us from about 200 examples, from two to four 

 inches in length, obtained by us at Waadda Island, in Neeah Bay, near 

 Cape FlatterJT, at the entrance to the Straits of Juan de Fuca. It is 

 found in the greatest abundance at this locality under rocks between 

 tide-marks. It is less active in its movements than the species of Oligo- 

 cottus, and unlike them it is often found out of the water, left in damp 

 places under the rocks by the receding tide. 



The following species have been obtained by us in this locality, which 

 is the richest in rock pool fish of any which we have anywhere seen: 



Xiphister mucosus, 



Xiphister rupestris, 



Xiphister chirus, 



Ascelichthys rhodorus, 



Gobiesox reticidatus, 



Anoplarchus atropurpureus, 

 



Mursenoides Isetus, 

 Apodichthys flavidus, 

 Apodichthys fucorum,* 

 Oligocottus giobiceps, 

 Oligocottus maculosus, 

 Scytaliua cerdale. 



