140 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



DESCRIPTIOIV OF A NEW SPECIES OF OOBIFSOX (OOBIFSOX RI[FS> 

 MODOIV) FROM SAmr DIEOO, CAI.IFORNIA. 



By ROSA SMITH. 



Allied to Gohiesox reticulatus Girard. 



Form essentially liketbatof G. reticulatus, and, as in that species, the 

 snout bluntly and evenly curved. The greatest height of the body is 

 across the pectoral fins, and the width is also greatest between those 

 fins. Head broader than body but less deep. Cleft of the mouth ex- 

 tending to the anterior rim of the orbit. Lips thickish as in G. reticulatus. 

 The anterior incisors of the lower jaw are less declined than those of G. 

 reticulatus, nearer vertical than horizontal, each of them tricuspid at 

 tip, the central cusp largest; about eight incisors on the mandible. 

 Teeth of the upper jaw conical, in an irregular series of seven to nine, 

 the alternate four or five being larger than the other three. Gill-mem- 

 branes free from the isthmus. Opercular spine sharp. 



Sucking disk entirely similar in form and structure to the other spe- 

 cies, its tips extending nearly as far as do the free tips of the pectorals. 



The distance from vent to base of the caudal fin is contained in the 

 distance from vent to tip of snout slightly more than one and a half 

 times (2J in G. reticulatus). 



Length of head contained two and three-fourth times in totfil length 

 to base of caudal as in G. reticulatus ; the tail proportionally longer than 

 in G. reticulatus, although the vertical fins have fewer rays ; in both the 

 dorsal fin is a little longer than the anal, having its origin in advance 

 of the anal and terminating opposite it. The caudal fin is rounded 

 and of a yellowish-white color, generally with few punctulations and 

 these at its base. Dorsal rays 11 ; anal 10. 



Slate color rarely nearly plain, usually with rather broad, distinct, 

 slightly mottled with paler yellowish bands across the dorsal region ; 

 the first a distinct band through the eyes, the second much broader 

 and situated at the posterior margin of pectorals; a roundish spot 

 of same color may be seen on each side at the base of the dorsal fin ; 

 these spots, when viewed from above, form a third light band, its dis- 

 tance from the second band equalling that between the orbital band 

 and the second or central one. A dark bar at base of caudal. Under- 

 neath yellowish, with dark punctulations on the lower jaw and the 

 belly, fine punctulations on the light bands, on dorsal and pectoral fins 

 and base of caudal. 



This species is known to me by about fifty examples collected by Mr. 

 Mr. Charles E,. Orcutt, and found adhering to stones in company with 

 Typhlogohius californiensis * at Point Loma. It differs from G. recticula- 



* TypMogolius californiensis Steindachner, Ichthyol. Beitrage VIII, Sitzgber. Wien. 

 Akad. 1879, 142 - Oihonops eos m. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1881, 19. 



