ICHTHYOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS OF THE ALBATROSS. 451 



Dorsal beginning immediately above upper end of gill-slit, the spines short, strong 

 and pungent, not flexible. Some of the anterior spines are short, but not free, the 

 fin increasing in height to opposite front of anal, the longest spine equaling length 

 of snout. The membrane of the last spine joins base of upper rays of caudal. Anal 

 with two strong spines similar to those of dorsal fin, the second twice the length of 

 the first and three-fourths that of highest dorsal spines. Anal rays all forked; the 

 posterior longest, equaling length of snout and eye, free from the caudal. Caudal 

 fin rounded in the younger specimens, lanceolate in adults, becoming in the latter 

 three-fourths as long as head. Ventrals short, of one short spine and three simple 

 rays, the fin one-fourth length of head. Pectorals large, the middle rays longest, 

 two-thirds length of head. Scales small, smooth, elongate, imperfectly imbricated; 

 partially embedded or altogether wanting on anterior part of back. Cheeks scaled, 

 head otherwise naked. Faint traces of a lateral line sometimes visible on middle of 

 sides anteriorly. Head 6| in length; depth 13 to 14. Dorsal lxix; anal ii, 41. 

 Length 290 mm. 



Color in spirits : Light olivaceous (light yellowish in life), a continuous jet-black 

 streak from occiput along each side of dorsal to base of caudal, with two interrupted 

 black streaks below it, the lowermost running on middle of sides. Top and sides 

 of the head darker, variouslj' marked with anastomosing black lines and spots. 

 Opercles blackish. Dorsal and caudal fins dusky translucent, without distinctive 

 markings. Anal and ventrals white. Pectorals white or dusky. Roof of mouth 

 black. Peritoneum black dorsally, white ventrally. 



Several specimens were seined near the mouth of the Nushagak River, Alaska. 



120. Leptoblennius nubilus (Richardson). 



Our specimens seem to agree in structural details with descriptions of L. nuhilus 

 from the North Atlantic, except that the ventral fins have but three soft rays. We 

 have no specimens for comparison, and make the identification with some doubt. 

 Pacific specimens seem lighter in color, with the dusky mottlings confined to the 

 dorsal region and with a very distinct series of oblong brown blotches along lateral 

 line, alternating with a lower series of small faint round spots. Under parts 

 immaculate. The mottlings along base of dorsal frequently unite to form a series 

 of oblong blotches alternating with those of lateral line. Other specimens show no 

 traces of dorsal blotches. Dorsal fin translucent, faintly mottled with darker. 

 Caudal with brownish crossbars. Fins otherwise unmarked. Fins and proportions 

 as described for L. nubilus. Dentition also as in the latter; mandible with a single 

 series of conical teeth, which widens at symphysis into an irregular double series or 

 narrow patch ; a similar series of conical teeth in premaxillaries, within which is a 

 band of fine villiform teeth. Palate smooth. 



Numerous specimens from Bristol Bay, Alaska, dredged at stations 3241, 3242, 

 3243, and 3244 ; depths, 4+ to 14 fathoms. 



121. Poroclinus rothrocki Bean. 



A single specimen from north of Unalaska Island, station 3312, depth 45 fathoms. 

 Depth at nape ,^2" length, the body tapering uniformly backward. Vent placed 

 anteriorly, its distance from snout If to If in its distance from base of caudal. 

 Head 6^ in length. Snout compressed, slightly projecting, the lower jaw included. 

 Maxillary reaching vertical from front of pupil, 3^ to 3^ in head. Teeth acute, in 

 narrow bands in the jaws, a single well-marked series on vomer and a patch on 

 front of palatines, those on vomer and palatines fully as large as those on jaws and 

 equallj developed in young and adults. Eyes large, close together, the interorbital 

 space convex, its width about half pupil. Diameter of orbit equals length of max- 

 illary, about 3i in head. Nostril tubes well developed, half diameter of pupil. 

 Gill-openings narrower than in other described members of this group, extending 

 forward below the vertical from posterior part of cheeks, where they are firmly 

 joined to isthmus, across which they do not form a fold, Gill-rakers obsolete. 



