26 



the snout, equal to one-third of the length of the 

 fish not including the caudal fin, has a height 

 half as great as the distance of its origin from 

 the snout. It is elevated in front, the rays be- 

 coming shorter posteriorly. 



The second dorsal, continuous from the first, 

 has its greatest height about two-thirds of that 

 of the first, the height diminishing posteriorly. 

 The united length of the dorsals is a little less 

 than half the entire length, of which the second 

 occupies somewhat the greater portion. The 

 rays of the first are feebly spinous, those of the 

 second little branched. 



The anal arising a very little posterior to the 

 plane of the middle of the second dorsal, has its 

 length and height about equal, both being near- 

 ly the same as the greatest height of the second 

 dorsal. 



The Pectorals are slender, pointed, their length 

 contained more than four times in their height, 

 which latter nearly equals the length of the first 

 dorsal. 



The ventral* are pointed, the third ray pro- 

 jecting beyond the others in a filamentous, tip, 

 making the height equal to that of the pectorals; 

 their insertion is posterior to that of the pectorals. 



The caudal is concave, its greatest height a 

 little more than that of the first dorsal. 



D. 14. 1-20 : A. 1-11 ; P. 1-17 ; V. 2-5 ; C. 16, 

 with accessories. 



The ground color is a light grayish brawn, be- 

 coming silvery beneath; this is crossed by nu- 

 merous, narrow, obliquely longitudinal, somewhat 

 waving lines of rich umber brown, giving a very 

 pleasing appearance to the fish; these lines are 

 but feebly traced on the head. The dorsal and 

 caudal fins are somewhat clouded, the others 

 lighter. 



L. lineatus is apparently not very common. — 

 It is taken in the Bay of San Francisco, at n ar- 

 ly all seasons of the year, but never in 

 numbers. It seldom exceeds eleven inches in 

 length. It is called by the fisherman, Corvina. 

 Cognard, and Little Basse. 



It is not very closely allied to any of the pre- 

 viously described species of the genus. 



Leptogunnellm gracilis, Ayres. — Form com- 

 pressed, very much elongated; the greatest depth 

 (at one fourth of the distance from the snout to 

 the tail) contained in the total length, I 

 times, diminishing thence very gradually 

 way : [ equal td naif the depth: 



lemrth of the specimen described, eleven in 



Bead destitute of Bpines or fleshy pi 

 forming a little less than one i the total 



length, flattened on the top, mm -what 



• 1. lower jaw the Bhorter. .ir the 

 top of the head, approximi 



longitudinal diameter tained net qnlt 



• in the length of the head, distant rather 

 more than their own length from the snout 



Branchial aperture free, isthmus narrow, bran- 

 chial rays six. 



Lateral line curving a little downward for 

 three f >urt'is of an inch, thence running straight 

 to the caudal fin, not conspicuous. 



Scales minute, s >ft, not ciliate, covering the 

 whole body, and the cheeks anterior to the pre- 

 operculum, not extending on the fins. 



Teeth fine, even, and forming a single row in 

 the lower jaw, and on the anterior part of the 

 palatines ; crowded on the intermaxillaries, those 

 of the outer row being a little larger than the 

 others ; none on the vomer. Mouth of moderate 

 size, almost horizontal, the tip of the maxillary 

 nearly reaching the plane of the 'anterior border 

 of the pupil. 



Opercular apparatus destitute of spines ; oper- 

 culum ending in a flat, feeble, somewhat acute 

 point. 



The dorsal fin, arising a little anterior to the 

 opercular angle, extends the entire length of the 

 hack. Its greatest height, at about one third of 

 the length of the fish, is not quite one half the 

 depth of the body: this height is maintained pos- 

 i teriorily with very slight decrease, anteriorly it 

 diminishes until the first rays become very short. 

 | Bays all spinous, projecting with sharp points 

 above the membrane; the first two scarcely con- 

 nected by membrane with those succeeding; a mem- 

 brane extending from the last ray to the very 

 ! base of the caudal fin. 



The anal fin, arising at a distance from the 

 snout a little greater than one third the total 

 length, does not quite reach the caudal. 1 1 

 about equalling that of the dorsal; rays articula- 

 ted, branched. 



The pectorals, rounded, have their height a 

 : little greater than the depth of the fish. 



The oentrals are half as high as the pectorals, 

 a little anterior to which they are placed. 



The caudal, rounded, scar lely equals the pei sto- 

 rals in height; 



D. 71; A. 47; P. 16; V. 5; C. 13. 



In color this species is of a light greenish olive, 

 with numerous dark blotches in the form of nar- 

 row, irregular lines, exti uding over the back, uji- 

 per part of the sides, dorsal fin ami caudal, on 

 which latter they constitute tolerably regular 

 transverse band.-: lower portion lighter; irides 

 silvery. Entire fish translucent. 



The grouping of characters hen' described in- 

 dicate a new generic division, closely allied to 

 eillU, to be thus limited — 

 LbPTOOUNNKLLDS, Ay re-. — liixlij elongated, 



muth I '. mouth 



of w re. Smai 'h in the jam 



and nn the palatines; vomer smooth. Dorsal rays 

 al 1 spinous. Ventralt weU developed. Branchial 



L. gracilis \a apparently rare. But 'a Bingle 

 specimen has yet been seen, which was Obtained 



