60 U. S. 1». R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



The affinities of this genus with Cotlopsis liave already been alluded to above. From' the 

 marine genera it alfl'ers by well marked characters, one of which is the i)reopercular spiny 

 process and its rather small anterior dorsal fin. The upper aspect of the head is smooth, as iu 

 Leiocoffus, and partly also as in Scorpaenichthys , but it has none of the cutaneous flaps which 

 the latter is provided witli. 



LEPTOCOTTUS ARMATUS, Grd. 



Plate XV, Fig. 2. 



<• 



Spec. Char. — Head mucli depressed ; upper jaw longer than tlie lower ; posterior extremity of maxillarj' e.xtending some- 

 what beyond the vertical of the posterior rim of the orbit. A preopercular process provided with three spines directed upwards. 

 Blackish brown above ; whitish beneath ; dorsals, caudal, and pectorals yellowish, barred with black ; anterior dorsal with a 

 black Slot posteriorly. Yentrals and anal whitish. 



SYH.—I.eplocoltus armatus, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. So. Philad. VII, 1854, 131 & 145 ; &, VllI, 185G, 133. 

 Jlcantltocollus inermis, Atres, MSS. 



The general physiognomy of this species is quite peculiar by its head and anterior portion of 

 the body being broader than deep ; at the origin of the first dorsal the depth is equal to the width, 

 the latter diminishing more rapidly backwards than the former, so as to measure considerably 

 less. The head forms a little less than the third of the whole length ; its upper surface is very 

 much depressed, and grooved upon its middle. The snout is broad and flattened, the upper jaw 

 protruding over the lower one. The mouth is broad and rather large ; the posterior extremity 

 of the maxillary extending somewhat beyond a vertical line drawn across the posterior rim 

 of the orbit. The anterior and tubular nostril is nearly midway between the margin of the 

 upper jaw and the anterior rim of the orbit. The eyes are of medium size, and partly situated 

 on the upper surface of the head ; their shape is sub-elliptical, and their longitudinal diameter 

 comprised about six times and a half in the length of the sides of the head. A stout and 

 horizontal process may be observed upon the convexity of the jireopercle, and terminated by 

 three acute and hook-like spines curved upwards. Another process, small and obtuse, exists 

 beneath upon the inferior limb of the same opercular bone. The head otherwise is smooth ; the 

 bones of the scull slightly perceptible, the middle sub-orbital inconspicuous, and the opercle 

 margined by a loose membrane. The isthmus is broad ; its width is contained nearly four times 

 in the distance extending between its angle and the extremity of the lower jaw. The branchi- 

 ostegals are well developed, and six on either side. 



The first dorsal fin is lower than the second, and much longer than high ; its upper margin 

 forms a convex curve ; it is composed of seven or eight slender spines, the third and fourth of 

 which being the higiiest. The origin of that fin meets a vertical line drawn immediately behind 

 the superior portion of tlic insertion of the pectorals. The second dorsal is nearly contiguous to 

 the first at its base ; it is composed of seventeen or eighteen slender and undivided rays, 

 gradually diminishing in height posteriorly from the fifth, which is the highest. The caudal 

 is slender and sub-trtmcatid, constituting a little less than the seventh of the entire length, and 

 composed of nine bifurcated rays, two simple ones, and a few rudiments above and below. The 

 origin of the anal takes place nearly opposite the fifth ray of the second dorsal, extending 

 posteriorly as far as the latter; its terminal rays, mayhap, projecting a little further backwards. 

 Its shape is the counterpart of the second dorsal, but not quite so deep as the latter is high ; it 

 is composed of sixteen or seventeen slender and undivided rays, the membrane intervening 

 which being slightly emarginated. The vent is situated at a short disstance from the anterior 



