FAMILY LOPHID^ — CHIRONECTES. 165 



Color. I have never seen this species in its recent state, and therefore cite Mitchill's 

 description : " Color pale brown, variegated along the sides with dark yellowish and ruddy, 

 " so as to resemble some sorts of iron-stones or fractures of ferruginous earths ; the deeper 

 " dark [markings ?] cross the dorsal rays obliquely and transversely, and the caudal in con- 

 " centric curves." 



Length, 2-0. Height, I'O. 



Fin rays, D. 12; P. 10; V. 5; A. 7 ; C. 9. 



We think diis species wrongly cited both by Cuvier and Storer; its radial formula differs 

 considerably, as well as its surface and rounded tail. Neither of these authors appear to 

 have been acquainted with Mitchill's description. 



This small species has been brought tb me from oyster boats, and had been caught in the 

 harbor of New- York. 



THE SMOOTH MOUSE-FISH. 



CniRONECTES L^VIGATUS. 



PLATE XXVn. FIG. 83. 



C. Utvigatut. CuTIEB, Mcmoires du Museum, Vol. 3, p. 423, pi. 16, fig. 1. - 



Le ChirmecU uni. Ctiv. et Val. Hist, dcs Poiss. Vol. 12, p. 399. 



The Smooth Chirmectes, C. lavigatus. Storee, Massachusetts Report, p. 73. 



Characteristics. Surface of the body smooth. Posterior portion of the dorsal longest. Color 

 as in preceding. Size of the preceding. 



Description. Surface of the body with no vestige of granules. Minute cutaneous slips 

 beneath the jaws. The appendages on the anterior portion of the head as in the preceding. 

 The dorsal fin with eleven rays, gradually increasing in length from the first to the last. 

 Pectorals with eight rays extending beyond the membrane. Ventrals with five rays, of which 

 tlie second and third rays are elongated. Anal elongated, and with seven rays. Caudal 

 rounded, but not as much so as in the preceding species. 



Color. Irregular blackish blotches upon a brownish ground, tinged with reddish. Small 

 white spots irregularly distributed on the sides. Brown transverse bars across the dorsal, pec- 

 toral and caudal fins. 



Length, 2-2. Depth, Tl. 



Finrays, D. 11; P. 8; V. 5; A. 7; C. 9. 



I remarked on this species but three or four of the cuticular slips, so numerous on the pre- 

 ceding species. The abdomen also appeared to be more tumid. The processes on the head 

 are almost precisely like those in the preceding species ; but the anterior ray is more robust, 

 and the second appears multifid at the tip. 



The geographical range of this species extends from Charleston, South-Carolina, to Boston, 

 Massachusetts, where it has been observed by Dr. Storer. 



