44 3IUR.ENID.E. 



the place of one in four and a half; its distance from the 

 snout three lines, or equal to its diameter, consequently two 

 and a half of its diameters are contained between it and the 

 edge of the operculum. Operculum rounded at the base, 

 terminating in a minute point directed backwards, strongly 

 radiated, strise distant ; preoperculum ascending vertically ; 

 cheeks smooth and soft. Mouth rather obliquely cleft. 

 Teeth, two large strong ones, placed close together, and 

 curving inwards at each side the extremity of the upper jaw, 

 the two inner one-sixteenth of an inch apart. In the lower 

 jaw one slender rounded tooth, nearly one line long on each 

 side, curving outwards at the base, and inwards at the point. 

 Entire upper and under jaw and vomer densely studded with 

 small bluntish teeth, somewhat uniform in size ; vomer ex- 

 tending far forward, and very much developed, forming a 

 cavity in the lower jaw, and in advance of the tongue when 

 the mouth is closed ; a series of rows of teeth similar to those 

 last described on the palatal bones : all the teeth of the upper 

 jaw exposed to view Avhen the mouth is closed. Tongue 

 short, not reaching within two lines and a half of the ex- 

 tremity of the lower jaw, and apparently toothless. On the 

 dorsal ridge, one inch from the snout, or two lines and a half 

 behind the cranium, is a short, stout, bony spine, not very 

 conspicuous, and, excepting at its extreme point, covered 

 with skin : it is six lines in advance of the first ray of the dor- 

 sal fin. Scales none, but it may have been divested of them 

 during its short exposure on the beach. Lateral line incon- 

 spicuous, being a slight depression extending in a straight 

 line along the middle of the sides posteriorly, or throughout 

 the greater portion of its length, but anteriorly nearer to the 

 dorsal than the ventral profile. Vent one inch three lines 

 from the extremity of the lower jaw. Branchiostegous mem- 

 brane opens forward rather before the extremity of the gape. 

 Dorsal fin commencing one inch six lines from the snout, low 



