124 



U. S. p. R. K. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



of the caudal fin. It terminates almost evenly witli the dorsal^ though its posterior rays project 

 a little furtlier hackwards. The depth of the anal is nearly equal to the height of the dorsal, 

 with the interradial membrane, mayhap, more deeply emarginated yet. The caudal fin is 

 well developed, spear-shaped, and nearly equal to the head in Length. The ventrals are slender 

 and exiguous, inserted under the throat, in advance of the base of the pectorals. The pectorals 

 themselves are broad, well developed, also spear-shaped and composed of dichotomised rays. 

 Br. VI : VI ; D LXIX ; A i, 46 ; C 3, 1, 6, 5, 1, 3 ; V i, 3 ; P. 15. 



The scales are small, sub-elliptical, broadest anteriorly, cycloid in structure, exhibiting 

 diverging grooves upon their anterior section only. The lateral line is made of a very incon- 

 spicuous series of mucous pores ; from the thoracic arch it slightly descends imtil it reaches the 

 middle of the flanks, hence runs straightway to the base of the caudal. 



The grouud color is greenish olive, the upper region of the head and body exhibiting longi- 

 tudinally elongated small dark blotches resembling broken up bands. A series of small black 

 spots may be observed along the middle of the dorsal fin, and another along its upper margin : 

 the spots corresponding to the rays. The first series alluded to does not always extend to the 

 whole length of the fin. The inferior region is lighter and unicolor, as well as the pectorals 

 and ventral fins, whilst the caudal is transversely barred with black or dark brown. 



References to the figures. — Plate XXVb, fig. 1, represents, size of life, Lunipenus anguillaris, 

 from the Bay of San Francisco, California ; fig. 2 is a vertical section of the body across the 

 middle of the abdomen ; fig. 3, a scale from the middle of the flanks. 



List of specimens. 



ANARRHICIITHYS, Ayres. 



Gen. Char. — Body very elongated, very much compressed, taenioid and tapering. Head moderate and oblong; snout 

 obtuse; mouth large. Canine teeth upon the premaxillarics and extremity of the dentary or lower jaw ; pavement-like teeth 

 upon the vomer, palatine, and branch of the lower jaw. Tongue soft and smootli. Branchial apertures separated under the 

 throat by an isthmus. Dorsal and anal fins continuous with the caudal, which is lanccolated. Ventral fins absent. Scales 

 minute; lateral line not perceptible. 



Stn. — Anarrhichthys, Atres, in Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sc. I, 1855, 32. 



Tliis genus differs from Anarrhichas, to which it is closely related, chiefly by the taenioid 

 form of its body and the continuity of the dorsal and anal fins with the caudal, as in Zoarces. 

 The head, in shape and structure, is Anarrhichas-like. Zoarces has ventral fins, which are 

 wanting in Anarrhichas and Anan-hichthys. 



