III. COTTOIDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 57 



nostrils are a little nearer the orbit than the end of the snout. The preopercular 

 spine is very acute, although stout at its base, and directed obliquely upwards ; 

 the spine on the subopercular is very minute. The gill openings are large and 

 oblique ; the isthmus is only three-sixteenths of an inch wide. 



The fins in this species are proportionally much more developed than in any 

 other within our knowledge. The pectorals, especially, would soon recall to mind 

 the different kinds of flying fish. The origin of the first dorsal is placed seven- 

 eighths of an inch from the end of the snout. It is very convex ; there are eight 

 or nine rays on a base of half an inch, the first one being the shortest. The 

 greatest height of that fin is not quite a quarter of an inch. The second dorsal is 

 considerably higher than the first, and "twice as long, and is composed of seven- 

 teen rays, all undivided. The anal commences under the second ray of the second 

 dorsal, and terminates under the thirteenth ; it is much higher than the latter, 

 and also more convex. It contains sometimes eleven, and sometimes twelve undi- 

 vided rays. The caudal is much elongated, posteriorly subtruncated, forming the 

 fifth of the entire length. The eight middle rays bifurcate from the middle of their 

 length, and it can scarcely be said that two of them exhibit a tendency to subdivide 

 again near their extremity. The ventrals are inserted under the base of the pec- 

 torals, and in advance of the first dorsal ; they reach, and even extend beyond the 

 vent when bent backwards. Amongst the three soft rays, the middle one is the 

 longest, and the internal one, the shortest. The insertion of the pectorals is very 

 oblique, and crescentic ; their form is elliptic or oval, quite regular, and their tip, 

 when directed backwards, reaches the fourth ray of the anal, and the sixth of the 

 second dorsal. All the rays are undivided; the seven inferior ones are much 

 stouter, and extend beyond their membrane. 



Br. 6. D VIII or IX. 17. A 11 or 12. C 2. I. 4. 4. I. 2. V I. 3. P 14. 



The vent is placed midway between the extremity of the snout and the base of 

 the caudal fin, as in the preceding species. 



The lateral line is rectilinear, disappearing already under the tenth ray of the 

 second dorsal ; but the minute pores, which mark its continuation to the caudal, 

 become very indistinct, running in a straight line, always nearer the back, when a 

 gradual fall brings it on the middle of the peduncle of the tail ; five or six very large 

 pores are seen on each side underneath along the lower jaw. These, as we have 

 seen above, belong to that cephalic channel of the lateral line, which, from the 

 occipital region, passes down into the preopercular and lower jaw. The same 

 pores exist in the other species, but nowhere did we find them so conspicuous. 



The remains of coloration left on such specimens as have been preserved in 

 alcohol, indicate a grayish ground above, turning to yellowish underneath. The 

 top of the head, and upper part of the body, are scattered all over with small, well- 

 defined dots of black, of the size of a pin's head; the sides and tail exhibit large 

 and irregular brown patches, surrounded by an orange tint, which becomes the 

 predominant color of the lower part of the body. The pectorals, dorsals, and 

 caudal, are slightly banded and dotted with black like the body itself. 



A series of individuals of this species, the largest of which had three inches and 



