126 NHW FISHES FEOM PACIFIC COAST GILBERT. 



Distance from end of dorsal groove to soft dorsal 2i in snout. First 

 dorsal spine very heavy, its tip curved backwards, its length one half 

 head ; the front and sides of spine are rugose, but not spinous, the 

 rugosities coarser in front and above. Second dorsal spine very slen- 

 der, two-fifths height of first. IS"o trace of a third spine, the membrane 

 extending almost to posterior end of groove, the length of its base about 

 one-half snout. Second dorsal and anal not falcate, the upi)er out- 

 line straight, the fins becoming uniformly lower posteriorly. Caudal 

 fin slightly convex behind, the tips produced for a distance about equal 

 to diameter of orbit. 



Plates very rough, with broken ridges, radiating from base; they are 

 essentially similar in shape on sides of body and head, showing no 

 tendency to coalesce on cheeks. On posterior part of sides are eight 

 raised lines formed of rough median crests on the plates, the crests not 

 bearing distinct spines. Several enlarged plates immediately behind the 

 opercle, each with centrally radiating lines. 



Pelvic spine very rough, as well as the membrane immediately be- 

 hind it. 



D. 11-32; A. 29. Fifty-two transverse series of plates between base 

 of pectorals and base of caudal. Pectorals with fifteen rays. 



Color: Very deep cobalt-blue in life, becoming uniformly black in 

 spirits. A narrow light blue line along bases of dorsal and anal, be- 

 coming white in spirits. Caudal with an intramarginal black band, 

 edged posteriorly with a very narrow white line. 



This species was found very abundant at Clarion and Socorro Islands, 

 and many specimens were secured. 



