296 REPORT OF NEW. JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 
similar profiles tapering back from occiput, which is point of 
greatest depth, to caudal peduncle. Lower half of body more or 
less constricted its entire length, though edges not trenchant. 
Predorsal region with edge rather narrowly convex, though with- 
out median keel. Upper and lower surface of caudal peduncle 
becoming rather flattened, and with a depression at origin of each 
caudal lobe. Least depth of caudal peduncle about a third of its 
length. Head attenuated to a long slender beak, or tip of snout, 
which is equal to rest of its length if measured from tip of closed 
mandible. Head strongly compressed, slightly convergent below, 
and broadly convex above. Beak very slender, ending in a sharp 
point, quadrangular at base, and rather depressed or flattened 
slightly for greater part distally. Along each superior edge a 
narrow cutaneous margin extending from above outer portion of 
mandible to near tip of beak. A slight narrow series of asperities 
along each edge of beak below continued back within mouth, and 
about midway in their course rather obsolete. In this portion of 
upper jaw they are narrow, though all triangular space anterior 
to inner buccal membrane minutely asperous, asperites arranged 
in small closely situated patches. Edges of mandible with 
asperites in rather broad bands anteriorly and at symphysis, 
though becoming more or less uniform narrow posteriorly. An- 
terior interspace obsoletely similar to that of upper jaw. Eye 
rather deeply ellipsoid, falling a little nearer edge of opercle 
posteriorly than end of mandible, and placed a little high in head. 
Maxillary small, with preorbital only covering over anterior por- 
tion, well exposed, and reaching opposite posterior margin of eye. 
Mandible elongately subconic, becoming slightly quadrangular 
just after tip. Tongue thick and not free. Nostrils close together 
or adjoining, on side of snout above, and anterior to eye for a 
space about 2% in horizontal diameter of latter. Interorbital 
space broadly and slightly convex. Gill-openings vertical, extend- 
ing but slightly forward as a shallow median branchiostegal notch. 
No rakers. Gill-filaments very numerous, large, and longest a 
trifle more than eye horizontally. Branchiostegals 7. Scales 
thin, along dorsal edge elongate, lanceolate, and slender, all more 
or less falling. On body generally most have fallen except those 
