MACRURUS CARMINIFER. 205 
the angles being rounded off, pointed at the snout. Nape narrow. Crown 
wider than the snout, low, convex. A median rostral ridge extending back 
to the interorbital space, but not prominent above the generally convex 
surface. Snout short, as long as the eye, pointed, ending in a rosette 
of small spines; prenarial angles hardly distinct, also marked by small 
rosettes. The length of the snout equals five sixths of the width of the 
interorbital space; the distance of the tip from the intermaxillary equals 
the distance from the nasal cavity or two thirds of the length of the eye. 
Mouth small; maxillary subtending the anterior third of the orbit, hardly 
as long as the snout. Barbel rather stout, stiff and rigid, three fourths as 
long as the eye, subcylindrical nearly to the point and thence tapering 
rapidly. Eye large, as long as the snout, five sixths of the interorbital 
width, four fifteenths of the length of the head. Exposed surface of the 
interoperculum small, triangular. Preopercular ridge curved backward at 
the lower angle. Teeth small, in narrow bands, subequal. Gill rakers 
short, tubercular, each crowned with several spines. Suborbital ridge low, 
rounded on the edge, hardly subtending the orbit. The distance from the 
snout to the vent is one and one half times the length of the head. Vent 
near the anal origin. Nine to ten long pyloric appendages. Second 
dorsal spine strongest, compressed, sharp-edged and serrated in front, 
grooved behind, about three fourths as long as the head, ending in a 
filament, situated little backward of the axil of the pectoral. Second dorsal 
fin very low and feeble, originating one length of the base of the first 
dorsal behind the latter. Anal fin more developed than the dorsal, first ray 
below the middle of the space between the dorsals. Pectorals small, three 
fifths of the length of the head, pointed. Ventrals small, first ray, with a 
long filament, as long as the head; bases situated backward of those of 
the pectorals, and forward of the base of the first dorsal. Scales moderate, 
imbricate, about thirty in a transverse series from the first anal ray to 
the first dorsal, six in a series from the lateral line to the dorsal fin, 
Each scale harsh with longitudinal series of spines, subequal in height, the 
median of which is longest. Nine or more series can be seen on a single 
scale of the flanks. The lateral line rises abruptly and reaches its greatest 
height below the middle of the first dorsal, whence it descends gradually. 
Brown, the spines of the scales producing a pilose grayish brown 
appearance. Linings of mouth and body cavity black. 
Description from a specimen of twelve inches in length. In the young 
