BROTULIDyE MERRIAMINA 57 



behind the nape, and extending to the base of the caudal, with which it is 

 possibly joined (the caudal region broken on the smaller example (No. 

 XIV), the tail being detached) ; dorsal rays subequal, the highest posteri- 

 orly, opposite longest rays of the anal; tail becoming very narrow, the 

 caudal short, weak, truncate, its rays about as long as the longest of dorsal 

 and anal, one and a half in depth and not far from two in head ; last rays of 

 dorsal and anal reach a little beyond base of caudal ; pectoral narrow and 

 long, inserted high, on the axis of the vertebral column, reaching fully to 

 front of dorsal, its length equal to depth of body and about half more than 

 the other fin rays; pectoral rays twelve to fifteen; a trace of jugular ven- 

 trals well in advance of the pectorals ; anal fin originating before middle of 

 body, similar to the dorsal but much shorter. Vertebrae strong, with well- 

 developed neural and haemal spines which grow short backward ; no evi- 

 dent hypural plate. No scales preserved. What seem to be small, pointed 

 teeth occur on a fragment which seems to belong to the mandible. 

 Cranium apparently rounded above, opercle well rounded behind. 



Of this species five other examples, more or less perfect, have been 

 found by Mr. Hadley in the diatomaceous shales of El Modena. These 

 range from three to four inches in length. 



No. CVII has body parts well shown ; the vertebrae are about 

 19 + 25 = 44, posterior vertebrae elongate and hourglass-shaped ; anal 

 rays 20 -J-, pectoral rays about 10; ventrals 7 -{-, the rays very slender 

 and branched ; pectorals inserted high, the long and slender ventrals 

 directly below them, their tips almost reaching front of anal, which is in- 

 serted at a point nearer tip of snout than base of -caudal. Dorsal rays 

 about 5-37, the first rays seemingly detached from the others. Body 

 growing slender posteriorly, the caudal narrow and short, apparently 

 lunate. 



No. XXXVIII is a broken tail with part of the dorsal fin. 



Another example (No. CIX) is very similar, but has the fins less 

 clearly shown ; the head is less crushed, but shows little save that the 

 bones are thin and entire, and the form seems conical. 



No. CX is still less perfect, little more than the vertebral column, 

 which has 40 -f- segments, being traceable. 



No. CXI is still worse crushed, but is identifiable by the many-rayed 

 dorsal and anal and the slender tail. 



This fisfr is apparently a Brotulid, not very different from the exist- 

 ing types, but not identical with any of the numerous living .genera so far 

 as we can see. It may be not very far from the existing California genus, 

 BROSMOPHYCIS Ayres, but the form is more elongate. 



The name MERRIAMINA is given in honor of Dr. John C. Merriam, 

 palaeontologist of the University of California. 



