FISHES — COTTIDAE SCORPAENICHTHYS. 



63 



the fourtli ray of the second dorsal ; it is composed of sixteen undivided rays less deep, and the 

 membrane by which they are united, emarginated between all of them. The posterior extremi- 

 ties of the rays are even with those of the second dorsal. The vent is a little nearer to the 

 insertion of the ventralsthan the anterior margin of the anal fin. Upon its posterior margin is a 

 fleshy tongue-shaped appendage. The origin of the ventrals is somewhat backwards of the base 

 of the pectorals. They are slender, composed of one spine and three soft rays, overlapping 

 considerably the anus, but not reaching the anal. The pectorals are quite large ; their posterior 

 extremity reaches a vertical line drawn in front of the fourth ray of the anal fin. It is com- 

 posed of eighteen undivided rays, the nine inferior ones being shorter and stouter ; the mem- 

 brane between all is indentated or emarginated. 



Br. V: V; DIX, 17; A 17; 4,1,4,5,1,3; Y I, 3 ; P 18. 



The body is perfectly smooth and scaleless. The lateral line, formed of a series of small tubes, 

 is very conspicuous, uninterrupted from head to the tail. It starts from the upper part of the 

 opercle, hence descends along the abdomen, forming an open curve convex downwards, then 

 follows a straight course along the middle of the tail. 



The ground color of the upper part of the head and body is dark brown, blotched with black. 

 The inferior region of the head is greyish; the abdomen dull whitish, with greyish spots or 

 dots, and the tail yellowish. The fins are of a greenish olive hue, spotted or maculated with 

 black. 



References to the figures. — Plate XVI, figure 2, represents, in profile, Leiocottus hirundo, size 

 of life. Figure 3 is a view of the under surface of the head. 



List of specimens. 



SCORPAENICHTHYS, Girard. 



Gen. Char. — Upper surface of head bony, corrugated. A membranous flap above the orbit, another upon the snout. 

 A few small spines upon the preopercle. Mouth deeply cleft ; jaws equal. Teeth on the premaxillaries, dentaries, front 

 of vomer, and palatines. Gill opening continuous under the head ; branchiostegal rays six in number. Dorsal fins contig- 

 uous upon their bases. Caudal truncated. Ventrals inserted back of the base of pectorals. Skin smooth, without either 

 scales or plates. Lateral line distinct and continuous for the whole length of the body. 



SYH.—Scorpaenichthys, Grd. Proe. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 185-t, 131. 



This genus is very closely allied to Hemitripterus, having, like the latter, teeth upon the vomer 

 and palatines, as well as upon the jaws. The membranous flaps which are observed on the 

 head constitute another feature, reminding us of Hemitripterus. It difi"ers, however, from it by 

 the insertion more backwards of the ventral fins, the structure of the anterior dorsal, which is 

 as high upon its posterior half than anteriorly, although a slight depression exists towards its 

 middle, indicating its affinities with Hemitripterus. The second dorsal is longer than the first, 

 the reverse of what it is in Hemitripterus, whilst the anal is proportionally shorter. 



