84 NEW FISHES FROM PACIFIC COAST GILBERT. 



Mouth small ; the maxillary reaching but little beyoud front of pupil 

 2a to 3 in head. 



Eyes large, equaling length of snout, 3i in head. 



Interorbital space narrow, groove-like; its width half diameter of 

 pupil ', nasal spines very strong, more than half width of pupil, without 

 filament ; supraorbital ridge ending above posterior margin of orbit in 

 a strong spine as large as that on nasal bone. By the side of this, just 

 behind eye, is another equally strong. Behind these spines the outline 

 is suddenly broken by a deep circular pit, as large as pupil, bounded 

 laterally and posteriorly by the short occipital ridges. Occipital spines 

 strong; supraorbital flap well developed. No other conspicuous fihi- 

 ments in our specimens. 



Upper preopercular spines strong, two thirds diameter of orbit, with 

 one process directed backwards and three to five upwards. The usual 

 three spines below this. A spinous point at lower angle of subopercle, 

 and a short spine on shoulder. 



Dorsal series of scales rather short, longer than head, extending from 

 opposite fifth dorsal spine to base of third to last ray of soft dorsal. 

 This series usually becomes single for a short distance posteriorly, and 

 contains about nineteen in a series. A few scattered spinous plates 

 behind axil of pectorals. 



The two anterior dorsal spines are filamentous in males; not elevated 

 in females; in our specimens extending when elevated to middle of 

 soft dorsal. 



D. X-14 or 15; A. 12 or 13. Lat. 1. 38. L. 3^ inches. 



Ground color varying with the surroundings from olivaceous to bright 

 coral red. A broad black bar below eye, and four across back ; one 

 under spinous dorsal, two under soft dorsal, and one across caudal pe- 

 duncle. Belly white, the dark bars encroaching on region below lateral 

 line. Males are darker than females, with black punctulatious cover- 

 ing sides and below ; the branchiostegal membranes, the lower two- 

 thirds of pectorals, the ventrals and anal black. Spinous dorsal irregu- 

 larly blotched or mottled with black. Soft dorsal, caudal, and terminal 

 portion of pectorals (in females) with dark crossbars. 



Numerous specimens from Stations 2907 and 2945, in 44 and 30 

 fathoms. 



KEY TO SPECIES OF ICELINUS. 



a. A pit-liko depression on occiput; nasal, two postocular, and occipital spines, 

 strongly developed; first two dorsal spines filamentous in the male. Poot- 

 axillary plates present. Dorsal series of plates scarcely reachinj; end of 

 soft dorsal Cavifrons. 



aa. No pit-like depression on occiput. 



b. First two dorsal spines filamentous, about equally produced. Dorsal series of 

 plates much longer than head, reaching end of soft dorsal. Postaxillary 



plates present. Nasal filament present Filamkntosus. 



bb. First dorsal spine filamentous, the second little, if at all, produced. Dorsal 

 series of plates usually shorter thau head, not reaching middle of soft 

 dorsal. No nasal filament, Postaxillary plates preseat,, Tenuis, 



