352 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [10] 
at least as long as that of the soft dorsal; interspace between dorsals 24 in head ; 
ventrals 2 in head ; pectorals 1% ; caudal lunate. Color bluish above, sides and belly 
bright silvery, finely punctate; vertical fins all pale yellow; base of pectorals 
blackish. Head 3} in length; depth 4; D. VIII-I, 20; A. II, 21 or 22; scales 7- 
pe re reetant stone abe s peices nh tae eye ieee So =o aia ee POLITUS, 
1. SERIPHUS POLITUS. 
(THE QUEEN-FISH.) 
Seriphus politus Ayres, Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sci., ii, 80, 1861. Git, Proc. Acad. Nat. 
Sci. Phila., 1862,18 (name only). Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 
1880, 456 (San Francisco, Monterey Bay, San Pedro, San Diego). Jordan & 
Gilbert, Proc. U. 8, Nat. Mus., 1881, 48 (San Francisco southwards). Jordan 
& Gilbert, Syn. Fish. North Am., 582, 1882. Rosa Smith, West American Sci- 
entist, 1885, 47 (San Diego). 
Habitat.—Coast of Southern California, north to San Diego. 
The Queen-fish is common on the coast of Southern California. It 
reaches the length of about a foot, and is an excellent pan fish. 
Genus II.—ARCHOSCION. 
Archoscion Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1862, 17 (analis). 
Isopisthus Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1862, 18 (parvipinnis). 
TYPE: Otolithus analis Jenyns. 
This genus as understood by us consists of two very closely related 
species (Isopisthus), and a third species (Archoscion) which is almost 
exactly intermediate between the typical Jsopisthus and Cestreus. 
The resemblance between Archoscion remifer and A. analis is so very 
close that the two cannot consistently be placed in separate genera. 
On tie other hand, the affinities of Archoscion analis with certain species 
of Cestreus (as C. bairdi) are scarcely less definite. The separation of 
Archoscion from Cestreus and of the latter from Otolithus are justified 
chiefly by convenience. 
ANALYSIS OF SPECIES OF ARCHOSCION. 
a. Distance between dorsal fins about equal to diameter of eye; soft dorsal with 21 
rays, its base about 1} times that of anal (Jsopisthus Gill). 
b. Anal rays II, 19; depth 4 in length; pectorals rather long, the middle rays 
longest, 1} in length of head; 75 series of scales between opercle and the 
tail; back not elevated; head compressed; snout not prominent, scarcely 
longer than the eye, which is 44 in head ;- mouth large, very oblique; max- 
illary extending slightly beyond middle of eye, 2 in head; lower jaw strongly: 
projecting, no pores about the chin; front of premaxillaries with two (or one) 
strong, recurved, movable canines; sides of upper jaw with two series of minute 
teeth, the outer series the larger; lower jaw with one or two series of minute 
teeth in front, and with a single -series of larger teeth and 3 to 6 moderate 
canines on the sides; gill-rakers 4 + 9, those near the angle rather long and 
slender; dorsal and anal densely covered with small scales; base of anal, 
1% in head. Color in life: bluish gray above, grayish silvery below, top 
of snout and tip of lower jaw blackish; inside of mouth yellow, with black on 
lower lip within; lining of opercles black, bordered with pale orange; dor- 
sals, caudal, and pectorals yellowish with tine black punctulations; axil 
