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U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



List of specimens. 



7. POMOTIS BREVICEPS, B. & G. 



The Blunt headed Snnfish. 



SPEC. CHAR. Body sub-elliptical. Head moderate ; snout bluntly rounded ; mouth small ; posterior extremity of maxillary 

 extending midway between the anterior rim of the orbit and the pupil. Eye email. Edge of preopercle finely crenated. 

 Opcrcular flap very large. Spinous portion of dorsal fin of medium height ; its origin situated posteriorly to the upper edge of 

 the base of the pectorals. Caudal posteriorly emarginated. Reddish brown ; a black spot at the posterior margin of the 

 dorsal fin. 



SYN. Pomotis brevkeps, B. & G., Prod. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VI, 1853, 309 ; 8f, in Marcy s Expl Red Riv. La. 1853, 246, 

 PI. xiii. 



This species, though very characteristic, resembles somewhat the normal type of P. fallax. 

 Its body is sub-elliptical ; its head, of moderate development, terminated by a bluntly rounded 

 snout, and constituting the fourth of the total length. The mouth is rather small, and the 

 posterior extremity of the maxillary extends midway between the anterior rim of the orbit and 

 the pupil. The eye is small also. As to the preopercular edge, it is finely crenated. The 

 opercular flap is very large. The spinous portion of the dorsal fin is of medium height, 

 superiorly convex, its origin being placed posteriorly to the upper edge of the base of the 

 pectoral fins. The anal is well developed, especially its soft portion ; the spines themselves are 

 stoutieh, but rather short. The ventrals are of moderate development ; their extremities over 

 lap the vent, but do not extend as far as the anterior margin of the anal. The pectorals are of 

 moderate development also, roundish ; their extremities not extending so far back as those of 

 the ventrals. 



Br. V : V ; D X, 11 ; A III, 9 ; C 4, 1, 8, 7, 1, 3 ; V I, 5 ; P 14. 



The scales are well developed, much deeper than long, anteriorly sub-truncated, rounded upon 

 the remaining edges, and conspicuously pectinated posteriorly. Five series of them are often 

 observed upon the cheeks, and of about one-third smaller than those covering the opercle. The 



