332 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEURt 



This species is loiowu to us from about teu speciuieus picked ont of 

 piles of prawns in the San Francisco market. They are taken in the 

 sweep-nets of the "Parauzelle" off Point Reyes. 



It belongs to the group or genus termed Fodotheeus by Professor Gill 

 (typified by Agonus acipensermiis), which is distinguished from Agomtn 

 cataphractus by the longer spinous dorsal and by the greater number of 

 plates on the breast. Agonvs vulsiis differs from AgonuH acipenserinus in 

 the much rougher head, ihe narrow suborbital, and in the slight devel- 

 op tnent of the barbels, as well as in many minor respects. 



Agonus acipenserinus is rather stouter, the head broader and smoother 

 above, the turbinal bones more widely separated. The nasal spines are 

 similar in the two species, as well as the position of the mouth. The 

 preocular spine is obsolete, the interorbital space is broader and not 

 corrugated, with two longitudinal ridges. Posterior i^art of head com- 

 paratively smooth, Avithout pit at the occiput. Eidges and spines on 

 posterior part of head continuous with those on the body, as in A. vulsus, 

 but higher than those on the body, instead of smaller, as in the latter, 

 latter. Opercular ridge small, the bones feebly striate. 



Suborbital region quite broad and smooth, with a strong ridge beneath, 

 on which are three strong retrorse spines, below which is a groove. Pre- 

 opercle with two radiating ridges, each ending in a spine. About 28 

 spinous projections on the head in all, the number on the suborbital re- 

 gion much less than in vulsus. Eye much smaller than in A. vulsiis, 

 much shorter than snout, nearly 4 in head. Ocular ring not ser- 

 rated, developed only above the eye. Body similarly armed, but the 

 spines rather blunter and the back and belly less concave. There are 

 no series of spines along the bases of pectorals and caudal. The ab- 

 dominal series join behind close to the end of the ventrals, as the dorsal 

 series close behind the second dorsal. The dorsal tins are separated by 

 about two scales. The ventral fins are short, the fin scarcely half the 

 length of the snout, the vent close behind its base j no visible groove 

 ("Podothecus") at their base. Pectorals reaching about to front of 

 anal. Breast with about nine large plates. Isthmus present. 



D. IX, 7; A. 8. Lat. 1. 37, 



Barbels greatly developed, as long as the diameter of the eye, arranged 

 in three tufts, one at each angle of the mouth and one under the snout. 

 None on the branchiostegal region. The type of the present description 

 of Agonus acApenserums is in the museum of the California Academy of 

 Sciences, and came from Vancouver's Island. It does not agree well 

 with the account of Fodotheeus peristethus of Gill, although Professor 

 Gill considers the two identical.* 



San Francisco, Cal., March 1, 1880. 



* See also Steindacliu(ji' (Iclitbyol. Beitriige, ix, p. 18), where tlie same opinion is ex- 

 pressed. In this article (" Ueber zwei neue Agonus- Arten aus California") BracJniopftif^ 

 verrucosus Lockington is described as Agonus (Brachyojysis) BarJcani, and Brdchyopsi.s 

 xyosternus .lor. & Gilb. as Agonus (Brachyopsis) Annce. The date of publication ol' 

 B. verrucosus is May 24, of B. xyosternus, July 2, while A. Barkaui and J. Annce were 

 " Vorgelcgt in der Sitzuug am 15 Juli 1880." It is certain, tlierefore, that the Amer- 

 ican names are entitled to the right of priority. — D. S. .1. 



