230 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSUEM. 



Aual fill similar, shorter and biglier, the spines graduated, the longest 

 rays more than half length of head. 



Caudal wide, moderately forked, the lobes equal, the longest a little 

 longer than head; the depth of the fin. from tip to tip, about equal to 

 greatest depth of body. Pectorals short, sligbtly longer than ventrals; 

 as long as from snout to edge of preopercle. Ventrals placed well be- 

 hind pectoials, not reaching vent. 



Head 3| in length; depth 2i 



Dorsal rays, XI, 11; Anal, III, 11. Scales, 12-G7-22. 



Coloration in spirits nearly uniform light grayish, without distiuct 

 markings; golden yellow in life, according to Lieutenant Nichols; very 

 faint darker streaks present along the rows of scales. Preorbital, sub- 

 orbital, and jireopercle bright silvery; lower jaw silvery; both jaws 

 dusky at tip. Fins all pale. A very obscure darker blotch in front of 

 base of pectoral. 



One specimen, about 15 inches in length, taken by Lieutenant Nichols 

 at BraithAvaite Bay, Socorro Island. It differs from P. hosci, in form, 

 in color, and in the greater development of nearly all the fins. 

 11. Cakanx melampygus Cuv. & Val. (No. 28,355 U. S. N. M.) 



Body oblong-ovate, compressed, the back arched, the profile not steep, 

 the curve from snout to dorsal being a nearly regular arc ; ventral out- 

 line nearly straight from the chin to front of anal, where an angle is 

 formed with the ascending base of the anal. 



Head moderate, compressed, not blunt in profile, the occiput and inter- 

 orbital region elevated and considerably carinated. Mouth moderate, 

 low, oblique, the lower jaw prominent, scarcely projecting beyond upper; 

 maxillary barely reaching to opposite the front of the small eye. Upper 

 jaw with a band of villiform teeth, in front of which is a row of strong 

 teeth, about ten on each side, the anterior largest, larger than in most 

 species, but hardly canines. Lower jaw with a siugle row of rather 

 large teeth, irregularly placed, much smaller than the larger teeth of 

 the upper jaw; villiform teeth on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Eye 

 small, placed high and far back ; adipose eyelid small. Diameter of 

 eye 2 in length of snout, 1^ in the depth of the broad preorbital, 2^ in 

 the post-orbital part of head, and 2 in interorbital area. Cheeks and 

 upper part of opercles with small scales ; rest of head naked. Gill- 

 rakers long and strong, as long as eye. 



Scales rather small; breast closely scaled; lateral line not strongly 

 arched, becoming straight opposite front of anal, its curved part If in 

 length of straight part. Plates on anterior portion of straight part 

 scarcely different from ordinary scales; those on i)osterior portion mod- 

 erate, with high keels and appressed spines; 37 plates in all, counting 

 from beginning of straight part. 



Spinous dorsal moderate, the spines slender, rather high. Procum- 

 bent dorsal spine obsolete. Soft dorsal low, falcate in front, the longest 

 ray little more than half the base of the fin, or 1^ in length of head. 



