28 FOSSIL FISHES OF LOMPOC 



12. Rhythmias starrii Jordan and Gilbert, new species. 

 (Plate XVII) 



The type (No. 175), 7% inches long, shows the whole fish, the 

 head, however, badly damaged and the fins imperfect. 



Head rather large and blunt, 2% in length to base of caudal ; depth 

 2%; upper profile forming an even curve from snout to caudal; snout 

 rather blunt ; mouth broken, apparently small ; eye moderate, as long as 

 snout and apparently 4 in head; no spines on head; vertebrae 10 -f- 15 = 

 25, small, longer than broad, with two narrow grooves, neural and haemal 

 spines moderate, directed evenly upward and backward; interneurals 

 slender, dilated at base ; second interhaemal enlarged. Dorsal fin low, con- 

 tinuous, scarcely notched, the spines XIII, the middle ones a little the 

 highest; the first dorsal spine over second vertebra, the rays not to be 

 counted. Anal low, with the second spine strong, curved, apparently 

 higher than any soft rays; pectoral obliterated; ventrals displaced, ap- 

 parently I, 5: caudal injured, its outline apparently lunate; no scales 

 preserved. 



The species is named for Mr. Edward B. Starr of the Celite Prod- 

 ucts Company of Lompoc. 



A similar specimen is No. 43, 10 inches long, 12^2 in life, the side of 

 a large porgy, without head. Depth 2^ in body from gill opening to base 

 of caudal about as long as deep, each with a conspicuous median groove 

 (ridge) : 10+15 = 25 (probably 24) preserved; neurals slender, similar 

 to the haemals ; interneurals small, those posteriorly double or divided. 



"Dorsal fin continuous, somewhat notched, 10 rather slender spines 

 present, the fourth longest, about 3% in depth of body ; soft dorsal ap- 

 parently short, its rays obliterated ; probably not over 10 in number. 



Anal with three spines, the second and third about equal, the rays 

 apparently not more than 8; second interhaemal a little enlarged, rather 

 longer than its spine, which is shorter than longest dorsal spine and 3% 

 in body. Caudal very long, forked, its lobes 1% in depth of body. Ven- 

 trals just behind pectorals, I, 5, well developed ; pectorals rather narrow, 

 crushed. 



This specimen seems to have the dorsal spines rather higher than 

 in the type, and the anal spine smaller. This difference may be due to 

 imperfections in preservation. 



Another (22A) is in poor condition, 13 inches long. Interneurals 

 small, oblique, those of first dorsal moderate, one for each pair of 

 neurals, each vertebra with two narrow ridges and three grooves. Verte- 

 brae 24, strongly grooved. Dorsal with 10 to 12 low spines preserved, 

 and 15 to 20 low soft rays. Anal about III, 18, the second spine longest 

 but still short : caudal long, subtruncate. Spinous dorsal with rather 



