430 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



73. Elanura forficata sp. iiov. (Plate 30.) 



Most closely related to rriomstius viacellua, with which it agrees in its extreme 

 elongation, in the production of its exserted pectorjil rays, and in the investment 

 of the spines and rays of dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins with series of minute 

 prickles (not "serrations''). The caudal lin is very widely forked, not merely emar- 

 giuate as in P. maceUus; the dorsal series of spinous scutes is i>resent, and also the 

 customary plates on the breast. The ventrals occupy the usual position and extend 

 well beyond the vent. The interorbital region is a wide shallow groove, unlike the 

 narrow space in P. macellm. There is a narrow naked streak on cheeks following 

 the lower line of the suborbital stay. The coloration is peculiar. 



Dorsal X 1-29 or 30 ; anal 30 to 32; pectoral 21; caudal 11; ventral i, 3; lateral line 

 54 to 56; branchiostegals 6. 



Description Extremely elongate, heaviest at the shoulders, tapering slowly and 

 regularly backward, the ventral region often distended. The depth varies from 

 6| to 7i in length, equaling or nearly equaling length of snout and eye. Length of 

 caudal peduncle, from last anal ray to base of median caudal rays, varying from 

 § to 1^ times length of snout and eye. Body everywhere compressed, slightly deeper 

 than wide, the greatest width and depth of head about equal. Depth of caudal 

 peduncle greater in females than in males, averaging three-sevenths diameter of eye 

 in the former, two-fifths eye in the latter. 



Occipital region of head nearly square in cross section, tapering regularly. A 

 pair of inconspicuous low ridges diverging from behind eye; a pair of cross grooves, 

 one immediately behind eyes, the other on middle of occiput, hardly noticeable in 

 the young. Supraocular rim protruding laterally, anteriorly, and posteriorly, deeply 

 incurved above middle of eye. The interorbital space is wide, evenly concave, its 

 greatest width over front of eye equaling length of snout, its least width one-half 

 diameter of orbit. Snout sharp, with greatly convex upper profile, showing a faint 

 transverse groove behind nasal spines. Its length is less than diameter of eye, 3i 

 to 3g in length of head. Mouth slightly oblique, reaching a vertical halfway 

 between front and middle of pupil, 2^ (in young) to 2i in length of head. Eye 3i^o 

 (in young) to 3i in head. Gill-membranes widely joined, free from the isthmus. A 

 well-developed slit behind last gill. The nasal spines are minute, as in T. maceUus^ 

 barely visible. Upper preopercular spine short and simple, three lower ones devel- 

 oped as thin rounded lobes, irregularly serrate or spinous. 



Squamation as in Triglops; the body above the lateral line and the top and sides 

 of head thickly covered with small spinous scales. Lower side of head, including 

 lower parts of cheek and preopercle and a narrow strip along lower half of pre- 

 orbital, the suborbital ring, and the suborbital stay naked. The series of slightly 

 enlarged dorsal scutes is very irregularly developed, the plates varying from 14 to 

 34 in 6 specimens counted. Lateral line slightly depressed above axil of pectorals, 

 thence ascending by a gently convex curve, sometimes nearly straight, with 54 to 56 

 scutes of the usual character, having undulatiug folds descending obliquely from 

 the posterior margins. Numerous secondary folds are also present, averaging about 

 2 to each scute of the lateral line, the total number of folds counted along lower 

 half of sides being in adults about 135. The anterior base and the axil of pectorals 

 and a strip encircling breast in front of ventral fins naked, the breast with a few 

 (5 to 10) transverse folds similar to those on sides. The lateral folds leave a wide 

 naked strip along base of anal fin and do not encircle caudal peduncle below. 



Dorsal spines long and extremely slender, the longest 2J to 2^ in head. The two 

 fins are separate, the membrane of the last spine extending to base of first soft ray. 

 Soft dorsal very long, fts base 2^ to 2Ji in length. It ends slightly in advance of last 

 anal ray. Base of anal 2^ to 2^ in length. Anus anterior in position, nearly midway 

 between axil of ventrals and front of anal. Ventrals inserted in the usual position, 

 their distance from snout 3J or 4 in length. Aloug their outer margin they are 

 provided with a wide cutaneous fold, as in Triglops beani. They extend well beyond 



