332 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
This species is known to us from about ten specimens picked out of 
piles of prawns in the San Francisco market. They are taken in the 
sweep-nets of the ‘ Paranzelle” off Point Reyes. 
It belongs to the group or genus termed Podothecus by Professor Gill 
(typified by Agonus acipenserinus), which is distinguished from Agonus 
cataphractus by the longer spinous dorsal and by the greater number of 
plates on the breast. Agonus vulsus differs from Agonus acipenserinus in 
the much rougher head, the narrow suborbital, and in the slight devel- 
opment of the barbels, as well as in many minor respects. 
Agonus acipenserinus is rather stouter, the head broader and smoother 
above, the turbinal bones more widely separated. The nasal spines are 
similar in the two species, as well as the position of the mouth. The 
preocular spine is obsolete, the interorbital space is broader and not 
corrugated, with two longitudinal ridges. Posterior part of head com- 
paratively smooth, without pit at the occiput. Ridges and spines on 
posterior part of head continuous with those on the body, as in A. vulsus, 
but higher than those on the body, instead of smaller, as in the latter. 
latter. Opercular ridge small, the bones feebly striate. 
Suborbital region quite broad and smooth, with a strong ridge beneath, 
on which are three strong retrorse spines, below which is a groove. Pre- 
opercle with two radiating ridges, each ending in a spine. About 28 
. spinous projections on the head in all, the number on the suborbital re- 
gion much less than in velsus. Eye much smaller than in A. vulsus, 
much shorter than snout, nearly 4 in head. Ocular ring not ser- 
rated, developed only above the eye. Body similarly armed, but the 
spines rather blunter and the back and belly less concave. There are 
no series of spines along the bases of pectorals and caudal. The ab- 
dominal series join behind close to the end of the ventrals, as the dorsal 
series close behind the second dorsal. The dorsal fins are separated by 
about two scales. The ventral fins are short, the fin scarcely half the 
length of the snout, the vent close behind its base; no visible groove 
(“* Podothecus”) at their base. Pectorals reaching about to front of 
anal. Breast with about nine large plates. Isthmus present. 
D. IX, 7; A.8. Lat. 1. 37. 
Barbels greatly developed, as long as the diameter of the eye, arranged 
in three tufts, one at each angle of the mouth and one under the snout. 
None on the branchiostegal region. The type of the present description 
of Agonus acipenserinus is in the museum of the California Academy of 
Sciences, and came from Vancouver’s Island. It does not agree well 
with the account of Podothecus peristethus of Gill, although Professor 
Gill considers the two identical.* 
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., March 1, 1880. 
* See also Steindachner (Ichthyol. Beitriige, ix, p. 18), where the same opinion is ex- 
pressed. In this article (“‘Ueber zwei neue Agonus-Arten aus California”) Brachyopsis 
verrucosus Lockington is described as Agonus (Brachyopsis) Barkani, and Brachyopsis 
xcyosternus Jor. & Gilb. as Agonus (Brachyopsis) Anne. The date of publication of 
DL. verrucosus is May 24, of BL. xyosternus, July 2, while A. Garkani and A. Anne were 
“‘Vorgelegt in der Sitzung am 15 Juli 1880.”" It is certain, therefore, that the Amer- 
ican names are entitled-to the right of priority.—D. 8. J. 
