74 FISHES FROM BRAZIL 



part of the head. The skin is nearly everywhere covered with fine pits, giv- 

 ing it a granular appearance. 



The color is light brown, with darker brown blended spots on top of the 

 head. These run together or become elongate on the body, forming irregular 

 longitudinal streaks. The median fins are dark and have a light border. 

 The pectoral is without color. 



This species seems to be related to Gobiesox papillifer Gilbert in having 

 fleshy papillae about the head, but differs in the number of fin rays, in color, 

 and in other characters. Four specimens, about an inch in length, were col- 

 lected in the tide pools at Natal. 



Family BLENNIID^. 

 220. Labrisomus nuchipinnis (Quoy and Gaimard). 



This was one of the commonest of the fishes in the tide pools at Natal. 



In a couple of specimens from the Canary Islands the band of filaments 

 on the nape is scarcely more than half as long as in the Brazilian specimens, 

 and, as Dr. Gilbert has pointed out (Proc. Wash. Acad. Sci. V. II, p. 179), 

 there is a second row of teeth on the vomer. Thus it appears probable that 

 Labrisomus canarieiisis Valenciennes is a valid species. 



221. Auchenopterus rubicundus Starks, new species. ■- 



Plate 15. 



The head is sharp, with the dorsal and anal contours similar. The head 

 is contained 3^ times in the length to the caudal base. The body depth is 

 contained 4^^ times. The jaws are equal anteriorly, and the maxillary ex- 

 tends to opposite the posterior edge of the pupil. The teeth are sharp and 

 even, in a single row on the outer edge of the jaws, and a short row of 

 smaller teeth behind them. The eye is a little longer than the snout, and is 

 contained 4 times in the head. There is a multifid tentacle on the anterior 

 nostril, one above the eye, and one at the nape. 



The fin formula is, dorsal III-XXVI, 1; anal, II, 15. The origin of 

 the dorsal is opposite the preopercle. The first dorsal spine is a little lower 

 than the second, and all of the anterior spines are considerably lower than 

 the highest spines of the second dorsal. The membrane between the third 

 and fourth spines joins the latter about a third of its length above its base. 

 The ventrals reach a little more than half way between their base and the 

 front of the anal. The pectoral is broadly rounded, and scarcely reaches to 

 the front of the anal. 



