1907.] 



NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADKLPHIA, 



251 



nl)()ut If ill its length; snout nearly 3; eye about 9; maxillary 2^; 

 interorbital space 3^; second dorsal spine 6|; third dorsal ray 3; third 

 anal spine 4; second anal ray 3^; upper caudal lobe 1^; least depth of 

 caudal peduncle 3f ; pectoral 2; ventral 2f . A slight median predorsal 

 keel. Snout about half as long as wide. Eye a little longer than deep, 

 and placed near first third in head. Upper jaw slightly protruding. 

 Lips thick. Distal expansion of maxillary about half of orbit. Nos- 

 trils close together, similar. Interorbital space broad and somewhat 

 convex. Edges of bones on head entire. About 13 rows of scales on 

 cheek. Lateral line on 1 or more alternate scales in its course, concur- 

 rent with dorsal profile, and also extending out on base of caudal. 







'%. 





lUXSii^!^ 



Fig. 1. — Stereolepis gigas Ayres. (Cbtype?) 



Spinous dorsal inserted a little behind origin of ventral. Rayed dorsal 

 begins well in front of anal or much nearer origin of pectoral than 

 base of caudal. Spinous anal inserted about opposite base of third 

 dorsal ray, spines slender and second longest. Caudal slightly 

 marginate. Pectoral reaches about half way to origin of rayed dor- 

 sal. Ventral reaches -^ of space to anal. Color of dried skin more or 

 less uniform brownish. Length 6 feet 2 inches. 



In the original account 2 examples are mentioned, one taken in 1857, 

 which measured 5 feet 8 inches, and the other in 1859, which was 7 feet 

 long. Allowing for shrinkage in the above example it is more likely 

 the latter. This was stated to have weighed 360 pounds. A}Tes gives 

 D. IX, A. Ill, 8, P. 19, and other discrepancies, which may possibly 

 be explained by the preparation of the specimen as a dried skin, typo- 

 graphical errors, etc.? 



Polyprion americanum (Schneider). 

 Italy (Bonaparte Coll.). 



