604 PROCEEDIxas OF THE XATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxxvi. 



Family CEPHALACANTHID.E. 



DACTYLOPTENA GILBERTI, new species. 



Head measured from tip of snout to upper edge of gill-opening. 

 3.8 in length; depth, i>.3; depth caudal peduncle, 4.3 in head; eye, 3; 

 snout, 3.1; interorbital space, 1.4; D. I-I-V-8; A. G. 



Snout extremely blunt; interorbital space broad and deeply con- 

 cave ; occipital region convex ; posttemporal processes short and 

 rather blunt, the space between their apices rounded anteriorly in- 

 stead of angular; each with a strong dorsal keel which is divided 

 anteriorly and broken up into two rows of sharp elevations much like 

 those on the scales. Opercular spine acute, the outer edge serrated ; 

 distance from its tip to end of snout contained 2.G times in the length. 



Scales with strong keels, the posterior edges of which are serrated ; 

 sides posteriorly, with a row of G large, movable, knife-like scales, 

 the first of which is located some distance anterior to the anal open- 

 ing; base of caudal with a pair of enlarged, movable scales, eacli of 

 which has a high, sharp keel. An indication of a lateral line in 

 the shape of a slight ridge without pores may be followed some dis- 

 tance backward and downward from the posttemporal spine. 



First and second dorsal spines separate from each other, and from 

 the remaining part of the fin ; the first spine very high, extending to 

 tips of other spines when the dorsal is depressed ; contained 3 times 

 in the length, inserted immediately behind the occiput, its posterior 

 edge with a broad membrane ; .second spine short, its length con- 

 tained about 3.8 times in the length of first ; its posterior edge with 

 a membrane which scarcely connects it with the following ray; suc- 

 ceeding spines all connected by membrane, their tips when depressed 

 reaching origin of soft dorsal. Longest (first and second) dorsal 

 rays somewhat shorter than head. Highest anal ray 1.3 in head ; 

 edge of membrane between rays deeply scalloped. Longest pectoral 

 rays reaching just beyond base of caudal. Caudal truncate; the 

 uppermost rays slightly longer than the others. Ventrals reaching 

 anal opening. 



In spirits the color is a very deep brown, almost concealing a few 

 black spots on the upper and lateral surfaces ; first dorsal spine Avith 

 6 distinct, blackish cross-bands, the color continuing backward 

 and darkening the membrane; other spines and rays of both dorsals 

 and caudal similarly barred; anal immaculate; pectoral with many 

 round, dusky spots of various sizes, and a large, dusky area near 

 base of fin. 



T7/pe.— Cat No. G2052, U.S.N.M., a specimen 208 mm. long from 

 Kagoshima. 



The sjDecies is represented by but one specimen. It is not to be 

 confused with D. orientalis^ being readily distinguished by the ex- 



