PRIONOTUS FRONTALIS. 109 
Head one third of the total length, two thirds as wide as long, as wide as 
deep, widest behind the mouth, narrow at the crown, high and arched from 
the front of the orbit to the nape. Snout moderately broad, subtruncate, 
nearly straight on the top, arched transversely, one and three fifths times as 
long as the orbit, narrowing forward, with denticulations at the sides, above 
the maxillary, and with a comb-like series of eight larger denticles in front 
of the nostrils at each side of the symphysis. Nostrils small; posterior a 
longitudinal slit, midway from the eye to the end of the snout; anterior 
subtubular with a fold reaching to the posterior nostril. Mouth wide, hori- 
zontal; maxillary reaching a vertical from the front edge of the eye. 
Teeth in villiform bands on jaws, vomer, and palatines; palatine bands 
about three times as long as wide. Orbits prominent above the crown, one 
fourth as long as the head. Interorbital space a narrow trough, the width 
of which is half the length of the orbit, half as wide as long, bounded pos- 
teriorly by a transverse groove that is bent backward in the middle. Head 
plates with radiating finely granulate ridges. A short spine above the for- 
ward part of the orbit on the orbital ridge; a larger one above the hinder 
portion of the orbit; a low spine-like prominence at each side of the oc- 
ciput, and another on the suprascapular; opercular and subopercular spines 
strong and sharp, coracoid spine shorter; two to three tubercular promi- 
nences immediately behind the eye. Scales small, harsh, ctenoid, absent 
from the space on the nape between the suprascapule, and at each side of 
the base of the first dorsal. Lateral line with fifty-two pores. 
Anterior spine of first dorsal half as long as the head, nearly equal to 
length of fin base ; forward edges of first two or three spines rough with 
denticles or granulations; first ray of second dorsal similarly roughened. 
Anal originating below origin of second dorsal but base and fin extending 
nearer to the caudal than in the latter. Caudal length equal to greatest 
length of second dorsal, three fifths as long as the head, fin concave on 
the hind margin. Pectoral rather narrow, pointed, longest ray four fifths 
of the length of the head. Fifth ventral ray three fifths as long as the 
head ; first ray short, spinelike. Ends of rays in all the fins more or less 
exserted., 
Four pyloric appendages. Females of the length of four inches contain 
well developed eggs. 
Back grayish brown, more -or less freckled with brown, with brownish 
streaks extending from the middle of the back forward and down to the 
