PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 69 
DESCRIPTION OF A NEW EXARE (PEIYCES EARLEUEE), FROM SOUTH 
CAROLINA, AND A NOTE ON THE OCCURRENCE OF PHYCIS RBECGIUS 
EN NOBTE CAROLINA. 
By TARLETON HW. BEAN. 
1. Phycis earllii Bean. 
The United States National Museum has just received from Mr. R. E. 
Darll three specimens of a species of Phycis which differ from all the 
other recognized eastern American species. It is quite unlike P. tenuis, 
P. chuss, and P. chesteri, since none of the rays of the first dorsal are 
produced. ‘Tn the shape of the anterior dorsal and the general form of 
the body it resembles P. regius, from which, however, it may be at once 
distinguished by its much smaller scales. From 2. Dekayi Kaup it is 
well separated by the structure of its anterior dorsal, and by having the 
ventrals shorter than the head. The species differs also from P. rostratus 
Gthr. in having a much greater number of scales between the anterior 
dorsal and the lateral Hine. 
Mr. Earl] secured these fish in the market of Charleston. They were 
numbered 151 in his collecting invoice, and are catalogued as numbers 
25207, 25208, and 25209 of the Museum Register. The species is dedi- 
eated to its discoverer, who first collected it and called attention to its 
specific distinctness from the four known east coast forms. 
DESCRIPTION.—The species is short and stout, resembling in this re- 
spect P. regius. The greatest height of the body equals twice the length 
of the longest ray of the anterior dorsal, and is contained 5 times in the 
total length, caudal included. The length of the head is contained 32 
times in the length of the body, measured to the origin of the middle 
caudal rays. The length of the snout equals the distance between the 
eyes. The length of the upper jaw equals half that of the head. The 
length of the eye is contained nearly twice in length of snout, 64 times 
in length of head, and nearly 4 times in the length of the postorbital 
part of the head. ‘The lower jaw is as long as the upper, but is received 
within it. The maxilla extends somewhat behind the vertical through 
the posterior margin of the eye. The barbel is 4 as long as the upper 
jaw, or nearly so. Both jaws and the head of the vomer are armed with 
teeth in villiform bands, as in other species of the genus. 
The pectorals are as long as the postorbital part of the head. 
The ventrals extend nearly to the vent, and their length is contained 
4 times in the distance from the tip of the snout to the end of the second 
dorsal. 
The distance of the anal from the tip of the snout nearly equals the 
length of the anal base. 
The origin of the anterior dorsal is directly over the axil of the pecto- 
ral; the dorsals are subcontinuous; none of the rays of the anterior 
