648 COXTEIBUTIOXS TO XOETII AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY — IV. 



354.— OXYLEBIUS Gill. 

 (Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862, 277: type OxyleUm pictm Gill.) 



Body oblong, somewhat compressed. Head conical, very slender, 

 acuminate, the profile somewhat concave. Mouth small. Jaws each 

 with a band of teeth, the outer series considerably enlarged; minute 

 teeth on vomer; few or none on palatines. Top of head with dermal 

 flaps. Preopercle with 2 blunt spines. Gill-membranes broadly con- 

 nected, free from the isthmus; gill-rakers short, not very stout. Scales 

 small, ctenoid. A single lateral line. Dorsal fin emargiuate, with about 

 16 low, rather strong spines; soft dorsal moderate, its membrane closely 

 scaled; anal with 3 stout spines, the second the longest; caudal trun- 

 cate; pectorals rather long, their bases not procurrent; ventrals moder- 

 ate, inserted well behind i)ectorals. Pyloric coeca few. Small fishes, of 

 bright coloration. (o|t><?, sharp; XejScaq — Lehius, an old synonym of i/^j;- 

 agrammus, from is/Smc, a kind of small fish suitable to be cooked in 

 /l£/?75c, a kettle.) 



1004. O, pictMS Gill. 



Tawny grayish, with about 6 black bars, alternating with areas of 

 pale orange, the latter obscured by dusky spots and blotches; the dark 

 bars extending on the fins, the first across the nape, the second across 

 the middle of the spinous dorsal, the third broader, across posterior part 

 of spinous dorsal and front of anal; one across middle of soft dorsal, one 

 on posterior part, and one at base of caudal ; the bars are about as wide 

 as the interspaces, and their edges are irregular, but sharply defined; 

 pectorals and caudal orange, with cross-series of spots ; ventrals largely 

 black; under side of head orange, freckled, spotted with pale; 2 fringed 

 cirri over each eye, scarlet; breast and belly marbled. Body rather deep, 

 compressed. Head little compressed, slender, i)ointed; lips thick; lower 

 jaw slightly included ; maxillary small, barely reaching eye. Eyes large, 

 about equal to snout, 4 in head ; nasal spines present ; interocular space 

 narrow. Scales on sides of head very small; scales on body small, 

 ctenoid, with strong horizontal striie, those on breast minute. Dorsal 

 fin continuous, its spines stitt', the middle ones highest, and all con- 

 siderably lower than the soft rays; second anal spine longer than the 

 third, about equal to the soft rays; pectorals barely reaching anal; 

 ventrals to past vent. Head 3J; depth 3^. D. XVI-15; A. IH, 13. 

 L. 10 inches. Eocky shores, from Monterey northward ; rare. A most 

 beautiful and active little fish. 



(Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila. 1862, 277.) 



