110 LABRID^. 



spines are exceedingly strong, the third being the longest, nearly as 

 long as the twelfth dorsal spine : the soft anal is lower than the soft 

 dorsal, and has the lower margin straight ; its longest ray is shorter 

 than its base. Caudal fin emarginate, with the lobes produced. The 

 tubes of the lateral Une are not branched. 



Ground-colour of the dried specimen red, with darker streaks along 

 the series of scales ; an oblong deep-black spot on the base between 

 the sixth and eighth dorsal spines ; the fifth and ninth have a small 

 black speck. 



inches, lines. 



Total length 16 6 



Distance of the snout from the middle of 



the posterior margin of the caudal .... 15 6 



Height of the body 4 1 



Length of the head 4 1 



of the twelfth dorsal spine 1 7 



16. Cossyphus diplotsnia. 



Harpe diplotsenia, GiU in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1862, p. 140. 

 D. f^. A. ■^. L. lat. 33. L. transv. 5/12. 



The length of the head scarcely exceeds the height of the body, 

 which is one-fourth of the total length (to the end of the middle 

 caudal rays). The upper profile of the head is not or very little 

 gibbous in the adult. Praeoperculum entire or scarcely crenulated. 

 The soft dorsal and anal fins increase in length with the age of the 

 fish, and in the adult the former extends nearly to, and the latter 

 beyond the middle caudal rays, whilst the external rays of the caudal 

 are twice as long as the middle. Brownish-yeUow : a dark band 

 commences behind the snout and is divided into two — the upper 

 portion running along the back, and nearly joining its fellow from 

 the other side on the back of the free portion of the tail, whilst the 

 lower crosses the angle of the operculum, and is continued on to the 

 middle of the tail, terminating near the caudal, and alternating with 

 two spots behind the base of the caudal fin. Fins immaculate. (Gill.) 



Coasts of Lower California. 



Described from two specimens, nine and sixteen inches long. 



17. Cossyphus pectoralis. 



Harpe pectoralis, Gill in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philnd. 1862, p. 141. 



D. f^. A. ^. L. lat. 32-33. L. transv. 5/12. 



The height of the body is contained rather less than thrice in the 

 total length (to the end of the middle caudal rays), the length of the 

 head thrice and a third. Forehead very gibbous in the adult ; pne- 

 opcrculum either entire or very slightly crenulated. The vertical 

 fins become elongate with advancing age, so that, finally, the dorsal 

 extends backwards nearly to, and the anal beyond the middle caudal 



