348 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
much more than half as many in lateral line as in J. bilinearis nor one- 
third as many as in M. vulgaris). Mouth rather small. A separate 
caudal. Two dorsal fins, the first composed of a few long rays, the second 
with longer base. One elongate anal. Ventrals well developed, with 
broad base composed of six rays. Teeth on the vomer and in the jaws 
in two or three rows, rather feeble. The eyes large, near together, look- 
ing upward. No barbel. ; 
Hypsicometes gobioides, new species. 
The general appearance of the fish is suggestive of a species of Gobius. 
Head rather broad and somewhat depressed; its greatest width (13) 
about equal to the greatest height of the body (12), and less than one- 
half its length (30), which is contained three times and one-third in the 
standard length. The cleft of the mouth is horizontal, extending to the 
perpendicular from the anterior margin of the orbit. The snout is broad, 
rounded, as long (10) as the longitudinal diameter of the eye. The in- 
terorbital space is narrow (2), one-fifth the length of the snout, the eyes 
large, very close together, looking upward. The length of the maxillary 
(13) is equal to the greatest width of the head. The mandible is much 
longer. Teeth minute, in two or three rows on jaws and on vomer.  Gill- 
opening wide, the membranes united over the isthmus near the snout. 
Body shaped much as in young of Merlucius, the least heigbt of the 
tail (5) about half of the greatest width of the body (11). The scales are 
large, about 58 transverse rows from gill-opening to base of caudal. 
The character of the scales and the position of the lateral line cannot 
be decided from the specimen described. 
The dorsal originates above the base of the pectoral, and consists of 
six or seven flexible rays as long (10) as the snout. The second dorsal 
has a-base four times as long (10) as the snout, and extends nearly to the 
base of the caudal. It is composed of about seventeen rays, the longest 
slightly longer (11) than the longest in the first dorsal. 
The origin of the anal is under that of the second dorsal; its base 
length (48) is equal to the distance of its anterior ray from the snout 
(48). It is composed of about sixteen rays, the longest of which (10) is 
equal to the longest in the first dorsal. 
The caudal is truncate, its length (18) three-eighths of that of the base 
of the anal. 
The insertion of the pectoral is distant from the snout (33) one-third 
of the distance from snout to base of caudal. Its length (10) equal to 
the height of the first dorsal. 
The ventrals are far apart, with broad bases lying flat upon the ventral 
surface, composed of six rays. They are situated far in advance of the 
pectorals and their length (14) equals two-fifths of the distance from 
snout to first dorsal. 
Radial formula: D. VI (or VII), 17; A. 16; V.6; L. lat. 158. 
Color grayish, with obscure cloudings. Belly lighter. A large black 
blotch upon the base of the upper caudal rays. 
