[43] REVIEW OF THE SCI#NIDZ. 385 
dd. Mouth not quite terminal, the premaxillary anteriorly scarcely on level of 
lower margin of orbit; preorbital narrow, but broader than in the pre- 
ceding species. 
e. Dorsal rays X-I, 28; dorsal spines very slender, the highest 14 in head; 
dorsal outline convex, especially anteriorly ; ventral] outline straightish; 
profile straightish anteriorly ; eye moderate, as long as snout, 4¢ in 
head; maxillary 2} in head, reaching much beyond middle of eye; 
teeth in the upper jaw in a narrow band, the outer series enlarged ; 
gill-rakers 8 +- 19; basal half of soft dorsal scaly ; anal spine very strong, 
its tip reaching past tip of last anal ray; pectorals about equal the 
ventrals, 14 in head; color grayish silvery above, silvery on sides and 
below; dorsal region with faint streaks produced by the darker centers 
of the scales; sides without dots; spinous dorsal blackish; ventrals 
and pectorals pale; a dark axillary spot; lining of gill cavity with 
dusky blotches. Head 3} in length; depth 3}. D. X-I, 28; A. II, 8. 
Scaleste—ol —l Osos eS ae eije Hata ee Meo e Ek vats es IcrsTia, 43. 
ee. Dorsal rays X-I, 23; dorsal spines ites stiff, the highest 2 in head; 
second anal ening rather strong, curved, 12 in head, as long as first soft 
ray, and reaching beyond tips of other rays; body oblong, compressed, 
scarcely angular in outline; profile straight, rather steep, the snout 
short and rather acute; eye as long as snout, 44 in head; mouth mod- 
erate, nearly horizontal; premaxillary on level of lower part of orbit ; 
maxillary reaching beyond middle of eye, 22 in head; teeth asin B. 
icistia; preopercle strongly serrate; gill-rakers 9 + 18. Ventrals 
slightly longer than pectorals, which are 13 in head; caudal truncate ; 
color soiled grayish above, silvery below; faint, dark streaks along 
the rows of scales; spinous dorsal and anterior part of anal densely 
covered with dark dots; head 34 in length; depth 3}. D. X-I, 23; A. 
Bs) GRIER Ol niece mse Sale sine wom sahl ate e's <i ee mele nied Roncuus, 44. 
aaa. Teeth of the lower jaw subequal in a rather narrow villiform band ; mouth in- 
ferior or subinferior, little oblique; preorbital broader, gill-rakers 
shorter, and pores and slits on snout more conspicuous than in other 
species. (Species approaching Ophioscion.) 
jf. Snout sharp, the head slender, narrow above, the interorbital space not 
broader than eye; anal spine very long and strong, 1} in head; pec- 
toral fin short, 14 in head; form of body irregularly rhomboidal, the 
base of the anal fin being oblique; profile almost straight anteriorly ; 
eye moderate, slightly shorter than snout, 43 in head ; snout 44 in head ; 
mouth large, inferior, almost horizontal, maxillary reaching beyond 
pupil, 22 in head; upper jaw with a band of villiform teeth and an 
outer series of enlarged teeth; lower teeth in a moderate band, the in- 
ner series slightly enlarged, especially in young examples; gill-rakers 
comparatively short, 8 + 15; dorsal spines short and stout, slightly 
more than 2 in head; caudal rounded; anal spine 13 in head; basal 
half of the soft dorsal and anal covered with scales ; color, bluish above, 
silvery below, a rather broad area from snout to caudal covered with 
brownish dots; upper fins and anterior half of anal with many dots. 
Head 3 in length; depth 3; D. XI-I, 21; A. II, 8. Scales 7-51-8. 
ARMATA, 45. 
ff. Snout bluntish; the head rather stout and broad above; the interorbital 
space more or less broader than eye; second anal spine stout, shortish, 
about half length of head. 
g. Dorsal rays X-I, 18; seales large, about 44 in the lateral line; pectoral 
not longer than caudal, which is 1} in head; body rather elongate. 
back a little elevated and compressed; profile somewhat depressed 
‘ 8S. Mis. 90 25 

