DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF STAR-GAZER (CATHETOS- 
TOMA ALBIGUTTA), FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO, 
BY 
TARLETON H. Bean, 
Ichthyologist of the United States Fish Commission. 
The steamer Albatross has taken some Specimens of a species of 
Cathetostoma, apparently the first of the genus known from the Atlan- 
tic, at station 2403, where two specimens were obtained. This station 
is in north latitude 28° 42/ 30”, west longitude 85° 29’ 00’; depth 88 
fathoms. At station 2404 two specimens were also taken; north lati- 
tude 28° 44’, west longitude 85° 16’; depth 60 fathoms. These two Sta- 
tions are in the Gulf of Mexico. At station 2410, in north latitude 26° 
41’ 30’, west longitude 83° 25/ 15”, from 28 fathoms, one specimen 
was trawled. At station 2411, north latitude 26° 33/ 30’, west longi- 
tude 83° 15’ 30”, in 27 fathoms, a young example, 40 millimeters 
long, was taken. The last two stations are between Tampa Bay and 
Dry Tortugas, Fla. The largest examples are those taken at station 
2403. These specimens are referred to in the description which follows: 
They are nearly equal in size, the largest one being 160 millimeters 
long. The length to the base of the caudal is 123 millimeters. The 
greatest height of the body (35 millimeters) is contained three and a 
half times in the standard length, and its greatest width is about the 
Same. The length of the head (44 millimeters), not inciuding the pre- 
opercular spine, is a little more than one-third of the standard length. 
The greatest width of the head (42 millimeters) is one-third of the 
Standard length. The width of the interorbital Space (11 millimeters) 
is one-fourth of the length of the head. It’contains a deep groove, the 
length of which is slightly greater than its width and.n sarly equals the 
length of the eye. The mouth is nearly vertical when closed. The 
intermaxillary is slightly protractile. The length of its tooth-bearing 
Surface (13 millimeters) is two-sevenths the length of the head. The 
maxilla is very broadly expanded behind. Its greatest width (8 milli- 
meters) is about equal to one-third of its length (21 millimeters). The 
maxilla extends almost to the vertical from the middle of the eye, and 
the end of the mandible is not much farther back. The length of the 
mandible (26 millimeters) is contained four and two-thirds times in the 
Standard length. The mandible has two blunt prominences at its 
121 
Proceedings National Museum, Vol. XV—No. 896. 
