NOTE Ol^ OXYCOTTUS ACUTICEPS (GILBERT) FROM SITKA 

 AND KADIAK, ALASKA. 



By Tarleton H. Bean, 



Honorary Curutor, Division of Fishes, 

 and 



Barton A. Bean, 



. Assistant Curator, Division of Fishes. 



The genus Oxycottus, .Jordan and Evermann, based upon OUgocottus 

 acuticeps of Gilbert, has been considered as nearly related to Blennicoitus 

 of Gill. None of the descriptions of Bleimicottus, so far as we have 

 observed, make mention of the forward insertion of the vent, which is, 

 however, subject to individual variation. 



We have examined the typical specimens of Blennicoitus glohicepsy 

 the description and illustration of OUgocotttis embryum, since referred 

 to Oxycottus by Jordan and Evermann, and also a number of specimens 

 of 0. acuiiceps from Sitka and Kadiak, Alaska. 



Oxycottus acuticeps differs markedly from B. glohiceps in the shape of 

 the head and in the structure of the preopercular spine. It is remark- 

 able also for the large size of the genital papilla of the male, which is 

 roughly three-lobed at the extremity, and for the very advanced posi- 

 tion of the vent, which is close behind the ventrals. Judging from 

 the illustration accompanying the original description of OUgocottus 

 embryum Jordan and Starks, that species ai^pears to be more nearly 

 related to Blennicoitus globiccps than to Oxycottus acuiiceps, having a 

 rather short, declivous snout, a thin, flat preopercular spine, and 

 a genital papilla smaller than in acuticeps and, apparently, simple at 

 the tip, while its position is less advanced than in acuiiceps. 



The largest examples of 0. acuticeps so far examined by us are females 

 fioni Sitka, measuring 2i inches in length. The only males examined 

 by us are two examples from Sitka; these measure \% and ly inches. 

 The larger of these males has a genital papilla \ inch long and more 

 than -,i; inch in diameter at the base. It is located almost immediately 

 behind the ventrals. B. globiceps has a small, slender papilla. 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXI— No, 1 1 67. 



655 



