PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 341 



Citharichthys arctifrons, new species. 



Extreme lengtli of specimeu described 137 millimeters.* 



The height of the body (37) is about three-eighths of its total length 

 (without caudal), and is equal to about four times the height of the tail 

 (9) and about five times its thicliuess (7). 



The scales are irregularly polygonal, cycloid; the largest about G mil- 

 limeters in diameter; the diameter (5)' nearly equal to that of the eye. 

 The scales are ilexible, loosely arranged, and very easily detached, so 

 that it is diflicult to secure a specimen in good order. Small scales on 

 the rays of the \entral fins. There are forty scales in the lateral line 

 (on the colored side), which is sharply defined and straight, and seven or 

 eight above and the same number below the lateral line at the broadest 

 l>art of the body. 



The length of the head (21-24^^) is about one-fourth that of the 

 body, and four limes the diameter of the eye (0). The interorbital 

 space (1) is very narrow, equal to the difference in the distances from 

 snout to lower eye (4) and snout to upper eye (5). The length of 

 mandible (10-104) is about double the latter distance; the length of the 

 maxillary (7-74) slightly more than the greatest width of the body. 



The dorsal fin begins upon the snout, above the anterior margin of the 

 upper eye. Its greatest height (13-15) is about three times the distance 

 of its anterior ray from the snout. It is composed of 82 to 83 simple rj^s. 

 The anal begins under the axil of the pectoral, its greatest height (14-?.j) 

 equal to or slightly exceeding half the distance of its anterior ray from 

 the snout. It is composed of G7 simple rays. 



The caudal is subsessile, triangular, of 10 rays; its length about equal 

 to that of the head. In dorsal, anal, and caudal the rays appear to pro- 

 ject beyond the connecting membrane half or two-thirds of their own 

 length. 



The pectorals are inserted far below the lateral line and close to the 

 gill-opening. The pectoral on the colored side is composed of more 

 lays (0-10) than that of the blind side (7), its length (17-10) being about 

 double that of its mate (7-9). The veutrals are comi)osed of 4 rays. 



Color dirty light brown. 



Eadial formula: D. 82-3; A. 07; C. 10; P. 0-10-7; V.o; L. lat. 40. 



Numerous specimens, ranging in length from 90 to 140 millimeters, 

 were taken, September 4, in hauls 870-871. The females were full of 

 ripe spawn. It is not probable, therefore, that the average size of the 

 species is much greater than that of the specimens described. 



* No. 25908, Nat. Mus. 



