896 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY IV. 



spots separated by a fine network of the white ground color; each pore 

 of the lower jaw in a round white spot; fins without white margin; in 

 young examples the black spots are larger and fewer in number than in 

 adults. Teeth uniserial; canines large; jaws not shutting completely; 

 mandible with 23 to 28 teeth on each side, of which the 3 anterior are 

 canines, the third being separated from the preceding by an interspace. 

 Length of anterior nasal tubes less than vertical diameter of the eye. 

 Snout produced, narrow. Eye moderate, | length of snout, a little 

 nearer angle of mouth than tip of the snout. Cleft of mouth very 

 wide, f length of head. Gill-opening a little wider than eye. Tail as 

 long as, or somewhat longer than, body. Length of head half, or a 

 little less than half, that of trunk. {Gunther.) Tropical parts of the 

 Atlantic, north to Southern Florida. 



(Cuvier, Rfegue Aniin. ; Giiuther, viii, 120.) 



Page 358. Before Ccecula insert: 



108 (Z>).— L.ET1IAKCHITS Goode & Bean MSS. 

 (Goode & Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1882: type Letharchus vclifer Goode & Bean.) 



This genus differs from Ccecula {Sphagehranclms) in the total absence 

 of the anal fin. The dorsal is high and begins on the head; gill-open- 

 ings subinierior, nearly longitudinal; pectoral wanting. {Ir^OupM^ to 

 forget; <'pxo-^ anal.) 



58© ih). t,. velafei- Goode & Bean MSS. 



Body rather robust, somewhat compressed, its greatest depth a little 

 more than f the length of head. Head large, abruptly tapering ante- 

 riorly; snout very slender and pointed, projecting considerably beyond 

 the lower javf, its length -^ head, and nearly twice the very small eye; 

 nasal tubes rudimentary; anterior nostril under tip of snout; cleft of 

 mouth, from tip of snout, 4 in head ; eye nearer tip of snout than angle 

 of mouth; lower jaw short and weak; tongue short, free in front; teeth 

 small, pointed, subequal, in narrow bands on jaws and vomer; head 6J 

 in trunk; head and trunk 14 times length of tail. Dorsal unusually 

 high, its height at nape equalling cleft of mouth; its insertion at first 

 third of head. End of tail sharj). Anal fin wanting. ISTo trace of pec- 

 torals. -Gill-openings large, subinferior, oblique, convergent anteriorly, 

 their length more than three times breadth of isthmus, and equal to 

 lower jaw. Lateral line very distinct, extending forward in a curve to 

 below front of dorsal. Four conspicuous pores on each side of lower 

 jaw, 3 behind each eye, 3 at the nape in front of dorsal, 1 on top of the 



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