63. aulornvxchid.e aulorhynciius. 391 



Family LXIII.-AULORHYNCIIID^. 



Bo;Iy elongate, nearly cyliiiilrical, with a very slender, (lB[)ressed cau- 

 dal peduncle. Skin uaked, with a few series of partly caucealed plates. 

 Mouth teriniual, small, at the end of a tube which is about as loug as 

 the rest of the head ; teeth very small ; branchiostegals 4, Gill-mem- 

 branes slightly counected, free from the isthmus. Dorsal fin with many 

 small, low, free spines, each of which is depressible in a groove ; soft 

 dorsal short, elevated in front; anal similar to the second dorsal, pre- 

 ceded by a single si)ine ; candal fin small, forked. An oblong, naked 

 area in front of the pectorals. Ventrals thoracic, but inserted some- 

 what behind pectorals, I, 4, or I, o. Genus 1; species 2. Small fishes 

 of the Xorth Pacific, intermediate between the Sticklebacks and the 

 Trumpet-fishes. 



{AulorhijacUdw Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1832, 233.) 

 a. Skiu of head naked ; veutralsl, 5; i)ectoralfiuocniuryiiiato.. .AuLORUVXcnus, 192. 



192.— AUl^ORIIVWCfllUS Gill. 

 (Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1861, ICO: type Anloyhnnchmjlavidits Gill.) 



Body very long and slender, almost cylindrical; caudal peduncle 

 elongate, tapering, much depressed, especially posteriorly. Skin naked, 

 with a series of small, rugose shields, one on each side of the lateral line, 

 one on each side of the dorsal fin, and a double row on the lower edge 

 of caudal peduncle. Lateral line present. Head not mailed. Mouth 

 small, horizontal, at the end of a tube which is slightly longer than 

 the rest of the head. Premaxillary bones much expanded, with long 

 and slender processes; lower jaw projecting, with a flap at symphysis. 

 Teeth in the jaws rather sharp, almost in one series; palate tooth- 

 less. Dorsal spines numerous, entirely separate, equal and ver^^ short, 

 the first inserted above the pectorals. Dorsal and anal fins posterior, 

 nearly equal, oblong, elevated in front; caudal fin small, emargiuate; 

 pe<;toriil fins emargiuate, the upper and lower rays longest; ventrals 

 not much behind pectorals, each with 1 spine and (4) 5 rays, {aukoq^ 

 a tube; /J^-//"?, snout.) 



a. Lateral .sliic!(l,s imbedded, not M[)iiious. (Aulorhijnchus.) 

 625. A. Jlcividus Gill. 



Tawny, with about 20 darker cross blotches on the back; minutely 

 l)unctulate above; opercuhi and ante-pectoral region with bright golden 

 or coi)pery lustre, bordered above by a blackish band. Gill rakers sleu- 



