SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE OF FISHES. 



401 



small; the caudal and veiitrals are well developed, the latter well separated; the 

 pectorals are large and have a strong, elongated base. The species are rather 

 numerous, and fall into about 8 genera; some are found in very deep water, 

 others, mostly American, occur coastwise. 



Genus OGCOCEPHALUS Fisher. Bat-fishes. 



Very curiously shaped fishes, with broad, much flattened head and relatively 

 small, tapering body; forehead elongated into a process which overhangs the 

 small mouth; eyes large, lateral; l)ands of fine teeth on jaws, vomer, and.palatines; 

 skin covered with small, bony tubercles; number of gill-arches 2.5; air-bladder 

 and pyloric coeca absent; dorsal and anal fins minute; pectorals large, horizontal, 

 surmounting posterior angles of head; ventrals widely separated. Small, shoal- 

 water fishes, inhabiting the West Indies, 2 species ranging as far north as our 

 South Atlantic coast. (Ogcocephalus, hook-head.) 



347. OGCOCEPHALUS VESPERTILIO (Linnaeus). 

 Bat-fish. 



Lphiiis ve spertilio Linnaeus, Systema Naturae, ed. x, i, 236, 1758; American Seas. 

 Ooococephalvs vespertilio, Jordan & Evermann, 1898, 2737, pi. cccxcii, figs. 958, 958o, 9586. 



Fig. 185. Bat-fish. Ogcocephalus vespertilio. Dorsal view. 



Diagnosis. — Body much flattened, rather stout, the greatest depth .2 total length; head 

 much wider than long, the length .5 total length; rostral process very long but of variable 

 length; averaging .12 of head; mouth small, the maxillary extending beyond pupil; teeth in 

 villiform bands; gill-slits very short, about diameter of pupil; skin thickly beset with bony 

 tubercles; dorsal rays 4, the fin inserted nearer to gill-openings than to base of caudal; anal 

 rays 4; pectorals directed outward and backward, their posterior margin extending beyond 

 dorsal fin; ventrals long, horizontal. Color: above grayish brown with black spots, below 

 coppery; dorsal plain; anal with dusky margin; caudal and pectorals white with a broad 

 black margin; ventrals white, (vespertilio, a bat.) 



