340 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxviir. 



generic differentiation Avore it not accompanied l)y others entirely 

 independent of teleolooical udaj^tation. The coni})aratively unarmed 

 and smooth head and the proniinent jaws are such irrekitive deviations 

 from the typical TrioHne type. The most noteworthy character, how- 

 ever, is that manifest not onl}' in the pectoral tins and rays, but in 

 their mode of insertion; the basis of insertion is much reduced, so that 

 the free rays are quite removed from the under thoracic surface as 

 well as ventral fins. In striking contrast with this is the condition in 

 the Prionoti as well as Triglee^ which ha\'e the free rays thickened 

 and differentiated from the others by the tendency to decurvature 

 forward, the wide base of attachment, and the insertion of the lower- 

 most vay in front of the ventral's base. 



The comparatively unarmed head is one of the most observable 

 features. The only distinctive spines are the opercular and preoper- 

 cular; the postorbital ridge is spineless and truncated behind and the 

 other spines obsolete or not represented even l)y vestiges. It is the 

 obsoleteness of the preorbital spines that gives the peculiar physiog- 

 nomy of Colotrigla. 



The only species is the Golotr'igJa stearnsi! originally described by 

 fTordan and Swain in 1884" as Prionotus stearnsiL In contrast with 

 the characteristics of Colotrhjla are those of Prionotus as now limited. 



PRIONOTUS. 



Fig. 2.— Prionotus cAROLI^'us. (After Stoker.) 



Prionotus Lacepede, Hist. Xat. Poiss., Ill, 1802, p. 37 (evolans). 

 Ornichlhys ^wAi^fios, Nat. Hist. Fishes, etc., II, 1839, p. 262 (punctatus). 

 Chriolux Jordan and Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., I, 1878, p. 374 [evolans). 

 Gurnardus JoRTiAS and Evermann, Syn. Fishes N. A., p. 2148 (gi/mnostethus) . 

 Merulimis JoKVAi^ and Evermaxx, Syn. Fishes N. A., p. 2149 {caroUnus). 

 Trigla sp. Linn^us, 1758. 



Triglids with the scales uniform, head with deeply sculptured bones, 

 jaws mostly concealed under the projecting preorbitals and lower 



«Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., VII. 1884. p. .341. 



