FISHES COTTIDAE OLIGOCOTTUS ANALIS. 



57 



slender, composed of three soft rays and one spine. Their origin is situated posteriorly to the 

 insertion of the pectorals, and their tip reaches, and slightly overlaps ihe vent, which is situated 

 near the anterior margin of the anal fin, and provided upon its posterior edge with a double 

 membranous flap. The pectorals, composed of thirteen undivided lays, the eight inferior of 

 which, stouter with their membrane emarginated, are well developed. Their insertion is 

 unusually oblique, and extends towards the inferior surface of the tlnrax, while their extremi 

 ties project beyond the origin of both the anal and the second dorsal. 



Br. VI : VI ; D VIII, 17 ; A 13 ; C 3, 1, 5, 4, 1, 2 ; V I, 3 ; P 13. 



The skin is perfectly smooth and the lateral line well marked, running from the upper part 

 of the thoracic arch to the base of the caudal, making a downward inflection or curve upon the 

 middle of the flanks. 



The ground color of the upper region of head and body is yellowish brown, mottled or 

 varigeated with blackish ; along the dorsal region a series of blotches of a deeper hue may &quot;be 

 observed from the occiput to the base of the caudal ; the lower half of the sides is rather 

 vermiculated than mottled in the male, and the abdomen of a bright saffron or yellow hue. 

 The inferior surface of the head presents traces of black markings ; the throat and abdomen are 

 unicolor, as also the ventrals and anal. The dorsals, caudal, and -jiectorals are transversely 

 barred upon a yellowish ground. 



This species inhabits the salt waters of the Pacific coast from California to Washington Ter. 



List of specimens. 



2. OLIGOCOTTUS ANALIS, Grd. 



SPEC. CHAR. Head sub-conical. Mouth moderately cleft ; posterior extremity of maxillary extending to a vertical line 

 drawn across the posterior rim of the pupil. Preopercular spines moderate. Two acute nasal spines. Dorsal fins contiguous. 

 Origin of anal situated posteriorly to the anterior margin of the second dorsal. Dorsal region prickly. Greenish olive, 

 maculated and spotted with black. Abdomen whitish, unicolor. 



SYN. Oligocottus analis, GRD. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. November, 1857,201. 



The present species seems to be more closely allied to 0. maculosus than to 0. globiceps in the 

 shape of its head and in the approximation of its dorsal fins. It, however, resembles more 

 0. globiceps by the structure and position of the anal fin. From both it differs by the situation 

 of the vent, and the presence along the dorsal region of very minute prickles, such as are some 

 times observed in other genera of the cottoid group. 



The largest specimen before us measures nearly three inches and a half in total length. The 

 head, which is sub-conical, constitutes about the fifth of it. Its upper surface is rounded, whilst 

 it is nearly flat beneath, with the upper jaw slightly overlapping the lower, giving the mouth 

 a nearly horizontal gape. The preopercular spines are moderate, less developed than in 

 0. maculosus. 



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