FISHES COTTIDAE — ARTEDIUS NOTOSPILOTUS. 



71 



somewhat shorter than in the opposite fin. The insertion of the ventrals takes place in advance of 

 a line intersecting the middle of the base of the pectorals. These fins are rather slender, their 

 tips not reaching the vent. They are composed of a spine and three articulated but undivided 

 rays. The base of the pectorals is quite oblique, sub-crescentic, and following the outline of the 

 gill apertures, so that its inferior portion reaches the inferior surface of the head. The fins 

 themselves are broad, the inferior rays much stouter than the rest, and the middle ones con- 

 siderably longer than the upper and lower ; their extremities extending somewhat beyond a 

 line intersecting the anterior margin of the anal. The rays, fifteen in number, are all undivided, 

 though articulated. 



Br. V : V ; D IX, 17 ; A 11 ; C 3, 1, 5, 4, 1, 2 ; V I, 3 ; P 15. 



The upper surface and sides of the head are perfectly smooth ; a small membranous flap is to 

 be seen above the superior and posterior rim of the orbit. The body is smooth, also, save a 

 narrow band of ciliated scales extending along the dorsal region from the upper portion of the 

 thoracic arch to near the terminus of the second dorsal fin, where it approximates that fin, hence 

 diverges from it anteriorly. The area thus covered by the scales is broader anteriorly than 

 posteriorly ; the scales are disposed upon transverse oblique series of eight scales each ante- 

 riorly, and reduced to less than half that number posteriorly. The lateral line is conspicuous, 

 undergoing a slight inflection downwards upon the middle of the flanks. 



The ground color of the upper region is deep chestnut brown, maculated with yellowish. The 

 lower part of the sides below the lateral line is ocellated with yellowish roundish spots of various 

 sizes. The inferior region is unicolor, as well as the anal and ventrals. The other fins are 

 spotted or barred with blackish. The chin is maculated with greyish. 



References to the figures. — Plate XXIIa, fig. 5^, represents Artedius lateralis, from San 

 Francisco, California, and size of life. Fig. 6, a dorsal scale-like shield, magnified. 



List of specimens. 



2. ARTEDIUS NOTOSPILOTUS, Grd. 

 Plate XXII b, Figs. 5 & 6. 



Spec Char. — Surface of head sub-tuberculous and scaly. Preopercle armed with a flat tricuspid spine. Anterior margin 

 of first dorsal situated in advance of the beginning of the dorsal band of scales, whicli is broad, and extends from the 

 thoracic arch to near the terminus of the base of the second dorsal. Olivaceous, with a series of saddle-lilie blacli patches. 

 Abdomen dull yellow or white. 



SYX.—Arlediui nolonjnlolus, Gkd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. VIII, 1856, 134 ; &, in Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. VI, 1857 ; 



PL xxiv, figs. 5 and 6. 

 CalycUepidotus lateralis, Atres, Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sci. I, 1855, 77. 



The specimen which we propose to describe, somewhat smaller than the preceding, measures 



