PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 339 



til', ate, aboiit as large as those of tlie colored side. The head is every- 

 where closely" thatched with scales, even to the edges of the lips, and 

 small scales occur on the bases of the caudal, pectoral, and ventral fins, 

 and upon the rays of the vertical tins nearly out to their tips. There 

 are about 23 rows above and 25 below the lateral lines on the colored 

 side, behind the curve of the line. 



Lateral line of colored side strongly bent in its anterior part over the 

 base and anterior two-thirds of the pectoral fin. There are about 92 

 scales in the lateral line, 72 of them in its straight portion. The arc of 

 the curved portion of the lateral line (12) is slightly more than double 

 the distance of its highest portion above the line of the straight portion 

 of the line were it continued (5). The curve of the line is very x)eculiar, 

 having two angles; that nearest the head being most obtuse. The 

 lateral line on the blind side is nearly straight, slightly ascending above 

 the abdominal cavity. 



The length of the head (20) equals one- fifth of the standard length, 

 and four times diameter of eye, or length of perculum (5). Distance 

 from snout to margin of upper eye (5) much greater than distance to 

 lower eye (3), and less than length of the maxillary (5.5), the posterior 

 margin of which j)asses the perpendicular from the anterior margin of 

 the lower eye. The width of the interorbital area is very small, less 

 than one-sixth of the diameter of the eye. The length of the mandible 

 (8) is two-fifths of the head. 



The dorsal fin begins upon the snout in the perpendicular from the 

 anterior margin of the lower eye. It is composed of from 99 to 104 

 simple rays (in five specimens), the longest of which in the jiosterior 

 fourth of the fin ; their length (0) nearly half that of the head. The 

 anal fin begins between the tips of the ventral, close to the vent, and 

 under the insertion of the x^ectoral. It is composed of 79 to 84 simple 

 rays, the longest in the posterior fourth; their length (7) slightly more 

 than one-third the length of the head. 



The cautlal is sessile, rounded, the middle rays in length (17) nearly 

 double the longest dorsal rays. 



The pectoral, present only on the colored side, is inserted close to the 

 branched opening, its length (15) three-fourth that of the head. 



The ventrals are upon the medium ventral line, even in length (0), 

 slightly shorter or nearly equal to the longest rays of the anal. 



Color on the left side ashy brown, with numerous more or less dis- 

 tinct darker brown spots. On the blind side white. Pectoral blackish, 

 with traces of lighter transverse bands. 



Radial fornmla: D. 99-103; A. 79-84. Lateral line (92). 



Eleven sj)ecimens, ranging in length from .094 to .156 millimeter, were 

 taken, September 4, in hauls 870 and 871. 



