642 DESCRIPTION OF NEW COTTOID FISH BEAN. 



completely united around the hreast, all the rays supported by actiuosts, 

 the membrane free at its margin. Ventrals distant from the gill-open- 

 ing, the pubic bones being remarkably long, the fins diverging widely 

 and consisting of a rudimentary spine and three rays. Dorsal long, 

 the spinous portion low, with slender spines, and the soft portion twice 

 as long as the .spinous. Anal long. Caudal moderately elongate, its 

 middle rays somewhat produced. 



Synchirus gilli ap. uov. 

 B. VI; D. VIII-IX, 19-21; A. 20; V. I, :i; P. 22. 



U. S. National Museum number 41820. 



The eye is about as long as the snout and one-fourth the length of the 

 head, which is two-sevenths of the total length to caudal base. The 

 depth is contained 5J times in the total length. The maxilla extends 

 to about below the middle of the eye. The interorbifcal space is not 

 equal to the length of the eye. There is a pair of strong nasal spines. 

 The preopercle has a short and very sharp bifid spine. The lateral 

 line contains about 41 spiny tubercles and most of the specimens have 

 a single series of spiny scales along the dorsal base. The pectorals are 

 nearly as long as the head and extend to about below the fourth ray of 

 the soft dorsal. The ventrals are nearly under the middle of the pec- 

 torals and their length varies greatly. In some specimens they are 

 scarcely half as long as the head ; in others they are as long as the post- 

 orbital part of the head. In some males the anal papilla is two thirds 

 as long as the ventral fin of the same individual. This papilla can be 

 received into a pit in front of the anal fiu. 



The spinous dorsal begins over the axil of the pectoral; the length 

 of its base is a little greater than the post-orbital part of the head. 

 None of its spines are much longer than the eye. 



The distance of the anal origin from the head is about two-thirds the 

 length of the head. The rays of the soft dorsal and the anal are not 

 much longer than the dorsal spines. 



The caudal is about two-thirds as long as the head and its middle 

 rays are somewhat the longest. 



The color in spirits is a pale yellowish brown. The sides show traces 

 of several small pale blotches and the caudal and pectoral have a few 

 very small dark blotches, those on the caudal forming interrupted bands. 

 Across the back are faint indications of about five pale cross-bands. 



The species is dedicated to Dr. Theodore Gill in appreciation of his 

 researches upon the mail-cheeked fishes. 



Three individuals, number 41820, have been taken as the types of the 

 species. The largest is 40 and the smallest 38 millimeters in length. 



