168 ALBATROSS EXPLORATIONS, FISHES .JORDAN AND BOLLMAN. 



This small species was dredged in large numbers in 7 fathoms depth 

 at Station 2800 ; in 14 fathoms at Station 2801 ; in 16 fathoms at Sta- 

 tion 2802 ; and at 5U fathoms at Station 2805. Probably none of the 

 specimens examined are fully grown. 



21. Prionotus albirostris sp. no v. 



Diagnosis. — Approaching Prionotus quiescens in technical characters, 

 but very different in appearance ; easily distinguished by the form, 

 armature, and coloration of the head. 



Type: No. 41,102. U. S. National Museum. 



Hab. — Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Colombia; Station 2795; 7 C 

 57' N., 78o 55' W. 



Description. — Head 3 in length (3f with caudal); depth 4^ (5f). D. 

 X-12 ; A. 11. Pores along lateral line 50 to 55. Length of the 

 type 5j inches. Body moderately elongate, little compressed, narrowed 

 above, the width of the nape between the occipital spines being 4£ in 

 head. Head rather short and high ; eyes prominent, the anterior pro- 

 file regularly concave, the eyes and forehead less prominent than in the 

 next species. Snout broad, its breadth at angle of mouth almost 

 equal to its length, 24/ in head ; its anterior margin not produced, but 

 slightly emarginate, seme short and even, bluntish, about 20 well de- 

 veloped ; whole edge of preorbital with fine seme. Anterior nostril 

 with a large black flap. Surface of bones- of head with strong radiating 

 striie, those in front of eyes most broken up into granulatious. Mouth 

 moderate, maxillary 2f in head, not reaching front of eye ; band of 

 palatine teeth rather broad. Eye rather large, 44/ in head. Iuterobital 

 space narrow, deeply concave, smoother than rest of head, its least 

 width 6^ in head. Orbital rim elevated, with coarse spine-like stria? in 

 front, inner largest, forming the preocular spine ; upper margin with 

 moderately strong seme ending behind in a large, supraocular spine. 

 No groove across top of head behind orbital rim. Occipital ridges 

 strong, the inner pair with a few asperities at base, ending in a com- 

 pressed spine ; the outer with stronger seme at base and extending to 

 opposite first dorsal spine. Temporal ridge slightly crenulate, with two 

 blunt spines. Preopercular spine without a smaller one at base, its 

 edge serrulate; suborbital stay with an elevated serrulate ridge but no 

 spine. Opercular spiue small and blunt, smaller than the strong 

 humeral spine. No spines on suborbital or preorbital. Membranous 

 flap of opercle scaly. Gill-rakers rather long and slender, longer than 

 interspaces, about equal to one-third of eye, five most strongly de- 

 veloped. Scales small, those on belly smaller than those on breast, 

 not extending before a line drawn between base of pectorals and 

 ventrals ; about seven scales between occiput and dorsal ; spinous dor- 

 sal moderately high, the first spine very strongly serrulate in front, 

 shorter than second, which is one-half head; first ray of second dorsal 

 serrulate at base, the longest ray very slightly longer than snout. 



