PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 523 



iu species of Syrrhina, length from vent little more than that from snout 

 to extremity' of ventrals, with a broad cutaneous fold on each side be- 

 low, which extends to the ventrals and is continuous with the lower lobe 

 of the caudal. Caudal rather large, somewhat more than twice as long 

 as wide, margins entire. Covered with shagreen above and below. 

 Several (three to four) series of sharp, erect, immovable spines along 

 the anterior margin of the pectoral, a group of several above the ex- 

 tremity of the rostral cartilage, and several on the orbital ridge. A 

 vertebral series of larger spines on back and tail extending to the 

 second dorsal, a pair near the middle and on each end of each branch of 

 the shoulder girdle, and a series on eacli side of the upper surface of the 

 tail parallel with the median. 



In foetal specimens the lateral series on the tail are not develojied, 

 and the inner jiairs on the shoulder-girdle are represented by single 

 spines. The upper portion of each spine is long, narrow, subfusiform, 

 depressed, and, resting upon a low, narrow support, aj)pears as if merely 

 applied to the skin by a portion of its lower side. 



Disk to end of ventrals 12, width of disk 11.2, vent to end of tail 12.G, 

 and total length 22 inches. 



Uniform olivaceous brown, whitish beneath. 



Specimens described from U. S. Nat. Museum. Hab. Southern Cali- 

 fornia. 



DISCOBATIDAE, fam. nov. 



Form intermediate between that of the Bajidce and BJiinohatidm ; 

 nearer the latter. Tail less distinct from the body than in the former, 

 to which there is also less similarity in dorsals, ventrals, caudal, and 

 nasal valves. Oviparous. Provisionally placed as a subfamily of the 

 Bhinohaiidce. 



DlSCOBATUS. 



Flatyrhina, preoccupied. 



Disk broad, flat, subcircular. Pectorals approximating in front of 

 the head. Ventrals separate, entire. Dorsals and caudal as in Syr- 

 rliina. Nasal valves resembling those of the Ehinohatidw ; anterior 

 lobes united across the interuarial space. Egg-cases similar to those 

 of certain Scylliidce. 



D. sclwnlcinii, sp. Muller & Henle, India. 

 D. sinensis, sp. Lac^p^de, Cliiua. 



The species recently described as PJatyrJiinw having been withdrawn, 

 the gonus contains no American representatives at present. 



