PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 275 



them ; a few scales on front of spinous dorsal. Lateral line considerably 

 curved anteriorly, becoming straight at a point in front of the vent, near 

 the origin of the soft dorsal. Dorsal spines comparatively long and 

 strong, little flexible; the third spine slightly longer than the second, 

 2| in length of head; first spine short and slender, about ^ length of 

 second. Dorsals not connected; second dorsal rather high, its longest 

 rays 3J in head. Caudal fin large, lunate, the outer rays about ^ longer 

 than the middle rays, which are 2^ in head. (In G. sqiiamipinne the 

 caudal fin is rhombic, having the middle rays produced, much longer 

 than the outer rays.) Anal large, as long as high, its distal margin 

 perfectly straight; its longest rays about one-third length of head. 

 Anal spines small, enveloped in the scaly skin, the second about ^ height 

 of first soft ray. Anal fin terminating considerably in front of dorsal. 

 Ventrals long, not reaching quite half way to vent, their length about 

 half that, of head. Pectorals broad, rather long, reaching a little 

 beyond tips of ventrals, and contained If in length of head. Head ^^o in 

 length; depth 4. D. IX-I, 23; A. II, 10; Lat. 1. QQ (pores 60). 



Slaty bluish above, silvery below, with bright reflections; body and 

 fins everywhere with dark punctulations ; tip of chin dark; fins yellow- 

 ish, the upper all with dark edging; pectorals blackish on the posterior 

 side; the axil and the large axillary scale dusky; lower jaw bright 

 silvery; lining of opercle dark; peritoneum pale. 



A single large specimen, 23 inches long, was taken at Punta San 

 Felipe, Mexico. Lieutenant Nichols notes that it is very abundant in 

 that locality. 



This species agrees with C. squamipinne, and differs from all other 

 known species of the genus in the complete squamation of the fins. 



29,366. Stolephorus opercularis sp. nov. Punta San Felipe. 



Allied to S. macrolepidotus (Kner &■ Steindachner). 



Body elliptical, rather short and deep, comi)ressed, but not very 

 strongly so, more elongate than in S. macrolepidotus; dorsal outline 

 evenly curved ; belly compressed, not trenchant. Apparently not trans- 

 lucent in life. 



Head large, (compressed, the snout blnntish, overlajjping the lower 

 jaw, the tip of which is just in front of the eye; maxillary compara- 

 tively short and slender, not extending backward to mandibulary joint 

 or to margin of preopercle. Maxillarj^ with extremely fine, hardly per- 

 ceptible teeth ; mandible toothless. 



Cheeks forming a triangular area, the apex downward and backward, 

 the triangle lower and much broader than usual, the base (at the eye) 

 being four-fifths the length of the other sides. Eye moderate, 1§ in 

 length of checks, much longer than snout, 4 in head. Anterior ridge 

 of preopercle prominent, the posterior membranaceous edge little con- 

 spicuous. Opercular region unusually long ; distance from ridge of pre- 

 opercle at lower posterior angle of cheeks backward to gill-opening 



