348 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



niuch more than lialf as many in lateral line as in M. hillnearis nor one- 

 tliird as nmny as in M. vulgaris). Mouth rather small. A separate 

 caudal. Two dorsal tins, the first composed of a few long- rays, the second 

 with longer base. One elongate anal. Ventrals well developed, with 

 broad base composed of six rays. Teeth on the vomer and in the jaws 

 in two or three rows, rather feeble. The eyes large, near together, look- 

 lug upward. jSTo barbel. 



Hypsicometes gobioides, new species. 



The general appearance of the fish is suggestive of a species of Golnuft. 

 Head rather broad and somewhat depressed; its greatest width (13) 

 about equal to the greatest height of the body (12), and less than one- 

 lialf its leugth (30), which is contained three times and one-third in the 

 standard length. The cleft of the moutli is horizontal, extending to the 

 perpendicular from the anterior margin of the orbit. The snout is broad, 

 rounded, as long (10) as the longitudinal diameter of the eye. The iu- 

 terorbital space is nariow (2), one-fifth the length of the snout, the eyes 

 hirge, very close together, looking upward. The length of the maxillary 

 (13) is equal to the greatest Avidth of the head. The mandible is much 

 longer. Teeth minute, in two or three rows on jaws and on vomer. Gill- 

 opening wide, the membranes united over the isthmus near the snout. 

 Body shai)ed much as in young of Mcrhicius, the least height of tbe 

 tail (5) about half of the greatest width of the body (11). The scales are 

 large, about 58 transverse rows from gill-opening to base of caudal. 

 The character of the scales and the position of the lateral line cannot 

 be decided from the specimen described. 



The dorsal originates above the base of the pectoral, and consists of 

 six or seven flexible rays as long (10) as the snout. The second dorsal 

 has a base four times as long (10) as the snout, and extends nearly to the 

 base of the caudal. It is composed of about seventeen rays, the longest 

 slightly longer (11) than the longest in the first dorsal. 



The origin of the anal is under that of the second dorsal; its base 

 length (48) is equal to the distance of its anterior ray from the snout 

 (48). It is composed of about sixteen rays, the longest of which (10) is 

 equal to the longest in the first dorsal. 



The caudal is truncate, its length (18) three-eighths of that of the base 

 of the anal. 



The insertion of the pectoral is distant from the snout (33) one-third 

 of the distance from snout to base of caudal. Its length (10) equal to 

 the height of the first dorsal. 



The ventrals are far apart, with broad bases lying flat upon the ventral 

 surface, comjiosed of six rays. They are situated far in advance of the 

 pectorals and their length (14) equals two-fifths of the distance from 

 snout to first dorsal. 



Eadial formula: D. VI (or VII), 17 ; A. 16; V. G; L. lat. 158. 

 Color grayish, with obscure cloudings. Belly lighter. A large black 

 blotch upon the base of the upper caudal rays. 



