152 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



bluntly. Occipital ridges heavy, low, spineless, forming 

 low domes behind. The space between them concave. 

 Preorbital with about two ridges radiating from the an- 

 terior border of orbit, each ending in a short, broad, 

 plate-like, blunt spine. Suborbital with a broad dome- 

 like tubercle. Preopercle with a dorso-ventrally com- 

 pressed spine; below this 3 successively smaller blunt 

 spines. Cheeks below orbit and suborbital with 4 or 5 

 fairly developed and many minute plates. Nasal spines 

 far apart, near tip of snout, sharp, nearly upright. 



A large membranous nasal tube. A short, flap-like 

 barbel at tip of each maxillary. Mucous pores of lower 

 jaw with flap-like borders. Mouth small, terminal; maxil- 

 lary reaching a little beyond front of orbit. Angle of 

 jaw, prominent, tubercular. 



The dorsals are far apart, the first a short distance be- 

 hind occiput; its spines very rough (like the rays of all 

 the fins) with minute prickles or plates. Its leathery 

 membrane also rough. Spines 6, transversely broad at 

 the base, the fourth longest, 2 in head. Base of second 

 dorsal about i| in that of first dorsal; rays 7, the third 

 longest, about i^ in head. Distance between dorsals 

 about equal to the base of the first dorsal. The anal be- 

 gins about 3 plates in front of second dorsal; rays 8, the 

 fifth longest; anal membrane notched, the distal Vj of 

 the 3 anterior rays exserted, with a narrow border of 

 membrane. Caudal rounded, its base about 2 in its 

 length. Pectorals close to the gill-openings, 4^^ in length 

 of body, their base about 3 in their length, rays a little 

 exserted. Ventrals (male) less than 2 in pectorals, the 

 inner rav longer, 8 in body. Lateral line (pores) about 

 II on anterior and about 9 on posterior part of bod}'. 



Color, in spirits, pale brownish or yellowish (" old 

 ivory"') ; a light brown cross-bar across the back in front 



