356 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



strongly-divergent teeth ; the lower of these is directed obliquely down- 

 ward. Grill-rakers short. Psendobrauchise well developed. 



Scales of moderate size, those on the breast little reduced. No scales 

 on the dorsal or anal, except a basal series. Caudal largely scaly; 

 about 20 scales in an oblique series from front of anal upward /to spin- 

 ous dorsal; 18 from vent upward to soft dorsal. Lateral line becoming- 

 straight well in advance of anal. 



Spinous dorsal high, not higher thau in 31. undulatus, its third spine 

 not very much shorter than the fourth. Third spine varying in length, 

 about 2 in head (If to 2^); all the spines freely flexible; longest soft 

 ray 3^ in head. Caudal slightly double-concave, the upper, middle, and 

 lower rays about equal, If in head ; lower rays shorter in young speci- 

 mens ; anal small, ending well in advance of posterior ray of dorsal ; 

 second anal spine rather small, its length 3f in head ; longest soft ray 

 2^ in head. Pectoral fin very long and pointed, reaching past ventrals, 

 but not to vent, its length 1^ in head. Ventrals with the first ray 

 filamentous; 1| in head, without filament. 



Color grayish silvery, without brassy tinge ; dorsal region and sides 

 above lower edge of pectorals marked with dark streaks extending 

 obliquely upward and Ijackward along the series of scales. Besides 

 these, about ten short oblique dark bars extending downward and for- 

 ward, crossing the arched portion of the lateral line, the longest of these 

 about as long as snout ; lining of gill-cavity blackish ; peritoneum pale; 

 fins all yellowish, the tip of spinous dorsal blackish; upper edge of 

 pectoral and border of soft dorsal dusky ; region above and below base 

 of i^ectoral with dark punctulations. 



This species is rather common at Mazatlan, where it is known as 

 ''^' Corbina.^^ It was not noticed at Panama, where its place is taken by 

 the closely related Micropogon altipinnis. It is closelj^ allied to Micro- 

 pogon undulatus (L.) C. & V., of the Atlantic coast, differing in its more 

 elongate body, rather larger scales, &c. The color and number of fin 

 rays are also somewhat different in the two species. From If. altipimiis, 

 to which it is still more closely allied, it differs chiefly in the smaller 

 scales and greater number of dorsal rays. 



20. Sciaena icistia, sp. uov. (28182, 28228, 28275, 28368, 29566, 29613, 29615, 29775, 

 29790.) 



Subgenus Bairdiella Gill. 



Body elongate, compressed, the back a little elevated ; snout very 

 short, compressed, and rather blunt, 4 in head; mouth moderately wide, 

 oblique; lower jaw somewhat included; maxillary reaching vertical from 

 posterior margin of pupil, 2f in head; upper jaw with a narrow band of 

 villiform teeth and an external series of somewhat larger teeth ; lower 

 jaw with a single series of teeth smaller than the enlarged teeth of upper 

 jaw and more close-set ; in front this series broadens into a narrowband. 



