PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 153 
the origin of the second dorsal. In the lower lateral series are 29 plates, 
in the abdominal series 30, 10 before the anal, 8 along its base, and 11 
behind it. 
Breast without distinct plates, but entirely covered with minute tubercles) 
each of which has a central spine. A series of five plates in front of the 
base of the pectorals, four of them armed with hooked spines. 
Fin rays: D. VI-6; A. 8; V.I, 2. 
Lowest rays of pectorals not so short as in B. verrucosus, the lower- 
most two-thirds the length of the longest (in B. verrucosus two-sevenths). 
Pectorals barely reaching front of anal. 
Ventrals much shorter than in B. verrucosus, the tips reaching slightly 
more than half the distance to the anal fin (beyond front of anal in B. 
verrucosus). Inner ray of ventrals very little longer than the outer, the 
connecting membrane narrow (very broad in verrucosus). Vent but lit- 
tle behind ventrals. 
Coloration.—Upper parts dusky ; mandible, cheek, and subopercle sil- 
very. Belly pale, with reddish tint. Lower half of pectoral reddish at 
base, the rest of the fin thickly dusted with black points. Ventrals red- 
dish. Dorsal membrane immaculate, the rays punctulate with black. 
Caudal blackish. Anal reddish anteriorly, dusky behind. 
This species is related to Brachyopsis verrucosus, lately described by 
Mr. Lockington, differing, however, in several important respects, espe- 
cially (a4) in the presence of small prickles on the breast instead of the 
large wart-like plates characteristic of verrucosus, (b) in the short ven- 
tral fins, (¢c) the absence of small prickles on the plates of the body, (d, 
the smaller number of plates, (e) the shorter vertical fins, (7) the long 
maxillary barbel, and (g) the deep mandible. 
Brachyopsis verrucosus is comparatively common in the open water be- 
tween Point Reyes and the Farallones, and is frequently brought in in 
the trawl-nets. Brachyopsis xyosternus is thus far known only from a 
specimen found on the beach at Santa Cruz by Dr. C. L. Anderson, and 
presented by him to the United States National Museum. 
The genus to which these two species belong is well separated from 
Agonus by the absence of an isthmus, as well as by the entirely different 
form of the mouth and anterior portion of the head. Whether they are 
congeneric with the type of Brachyopsis Gill (Agonus rostratus Tilesius, 
from Kamtschatka) is yet to be proven. 
Table of measurements. 
Xyosternus, | Verrucosus, 
Santa Cruz. | Punta Reyes. 
Hstremenlonc tha ini CHEBrs te caate sss ccieceeirecccarccccceeccesuecceessce 5. 20 6. 45 
Hen suh coypaseioticandall—00euekes so. cos) coco ees cemcecusccmeeecececees 4,40 5. 55 
OdwaeMeadtestdepuleecss eee en ens coe ee oe Men aea eb atissoaca ccesceveous 11 (ea) 12 
Head: 
ILC 2 AASB rn Be SSeS ee SE eee Ee Se ai ie ae 22 24 
Mishancetromisnoutbo mapas cassascse ssa cee neaweb seadocceascacccoce 17.5 19.5 
Greatesnumld ubemeceaneecnate aetna ccs ac wasict fosakecsrcwe cies 15 16.5 
Hitierarloitoluwi pines ae Mewes oe eS PS GAS A 8 eee bacekice 4 5 
ART i HO tSHOUUee eee mane on ene tesa n he nee Sena uscacmncccalemeasic 4,2 6 
