16 FOSSIL FISHES OF LOMPOC 



and with moderate, not very oblique, neurals and hsemals; the interneu- 

 rals and interhaemals notably short and slender; the interneurals very 

 much smaller than in THYRSOCLES. Ribs slender, short, directed strongly 

 backward ; hypural plate obscure. First dorsal of about 20 spines, these 

 very slender, close-set, and rapidly shortened to the last, the first three 

 high, nearly equal to depth of body at base, which is S 1 /^ times in dis- 

 tance from the snout to base of caudal. Second dorsal showing about 

 12 slender rays ; the distance from its front to front of first dorsal 2% in 

 distance from front of first dorsal to base of caudal; distance between 

 dorsals 3% in this measurement; insertion of anal under about fifth ray 

 of second dorsal. Caudal strong, widely forked, its rays 15 -j- 15, its lobes 

 equal, 5^ in length of body, the outer rays much shortened. 



Another specimen, apparently of the same species (No. 178), shows 

 the head and body to the second dorsal fin. It is in poor condition, being 

 crushed and distorted, the long head badly broken, a few teeth, com- 

 pressed, formed as in SCOMBEROMORUS, preserved, but the fins all twisted 

 from their natural position and none well preserved. About twelve ver- 

 tebrae precede front of soft dorsal. 



A counterpart (No. 177) shows crushed head only, with straight 

 profile, pointed snout, longer than eye, which is twice in distance to 

 front of opercle, and 2% in breadth of opercle behind it, thus nearly 

 6^4 in head. The long straight gape extends beyond the eye. Opercu- 

 lar region very long, the distance from gill opening to preopercle greater 

 than distance thence to front of eye. 



Occasional rather small narrowly triangular compressed teeth occur 

 along the edges of both jaws, rather less narrowed and crowded anteriorly 

 than in THYRSION VELOX. 



Another specimen (180) shows the head and anterior parts badly 

 damaged, with but few vertebrae preserved, these longer than deep, and 

 with traces only of first dorsal and anal fins. 



Pectoral well preserved, of about eighteen rays, inserted high; ven- 

 trals well developed but broken, inserted before pectoral ; posterior part of 

 head rather long. 



Another head with part of body (No. 7) seems to belong to this 

 species. Head long, with pointed snout and long jaws on which a few 

 compressed, spaced teeth are shown, the length of head greater than 

 depth of body. The opercular region very long, much longer than in 

 THYRSOCLES. Preopercle with an enlarged angle turned downward, as 

 in the types of AUXIDES, but the striae on its surface very fine, much 

 finer than in AUXIDES. 



First dorsal with slender close-set spines, apparently about 20 in 

 number; pectorals and ventrals present but distorted. Vertebrae slender, 



