2360 Bulletin 47, United States National Museum. 



2701. MALACOCTEMJS BIGCTTATUS (Cope). 



Dorsal XIX-1, 11; anal II, 16; The first dorsal spines the longest, last 

 spine longer than penultimate; length of head without opercular flap, 

 3f times in length (exclusive of caudal fin); eye a little less than 

 length of head, f greater than interorbital width; pectoral fin reaching 

 to fifth anal; scales large, 4-46-10 [cirri and teeth not described]. Pale 

 reddish brown, humeral red- veined; rufous specks on anterior part of 

 sides; 7 subquadrate brown blotches from nape to caudal fin, continued 

 with interruptions as lateral bands, the fourth near end of spinous dorsal 

 black; a black spot at base of membrane between first to third dorsal 

 spines; 2 small brown spots behind orbit, the posterior on operculum. 

 Length 2.25 inches. This species is well distinguished from Labrisomm 

 nuchipinnis by the large scales, form of dorsal fin, coloration, etc. From 

 New Providence, Bahamas; Dr. H. C. Wood's collection. Also a very 

 small specimen from Dr. Rijgersma, St. Martins. (Cope.) Not seen by 

 us. (bis, two; guttatus, spotted.) 



Labrisomus biguttatus, COPE, Trans. Am. PMlos. Soc. Phila. 1873, 473, New Providence, 

 Bahama Islands. (Coll. Dr. H. C. Wood.) 



873. LABRISOMUS,* Swainson. 



Labrisomus, SWAINSON, Nat. Hist. Class'n Fishes, n, 277, 1839 (pectinifer) . 



Lepisoma, DEKAY, New York Fauna: Fishes, 41, 1842 (cirrhosum). 



Labrosomus, GILL, amended spelling. 



? Blennioclinus, GILL, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1860, 103 (brachycephalus). 



? Auchenionchus (misprinted Anchenionchus), GILL, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1860, 103 



(variolosus) . 



? Calliclinus, GILL, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1860, 103 (geniguttatus) . 

 ? Ophthalmolophue, GILL, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1860, 104 (latipinnis). 



* Concerning this genus and its affines, Dr. Gill remarks : 



" The name Labrosomus (or Labrisomus) was first published in 1839, in the second volume 

 of the 'Natural History of Fishes, Amphibians, and Reptiles. 1 At the seventy-fifth page of 

 that volume, Swainson has divided the Cuvieran genus Clinus into 5 genera: Clinus, of 

 which the Clinus acuminatus, Cuvier, is taken as the type ; Labrisomus with Clinus pectin- 

 ifer, Valenciennes, as type; Tripterygion, Bisso, Clinltrachus, Reese, which is typified by 

 Elennius variabilis of Rafinesque, and Blennophis, of which the Clinus anguillaris, Valen- 

 ciennes is the only true species. Of these genera, Clinus Swainson, and Clinitrachus Swain- 

 son, are distinguished by false or illusive characters, and cannot be regarded as distinct. 

 The others are valid, but their characters require revision. The only claim to distinction 

 of the genus Labrosomus given by Swainson, is founded on the strong, conic, and pointed 

 row of front teeth, behind which are villiform ones ; a thicker body than in Clinus, and the 

 'dorsal fin distinctly emarginate toward the caudal.' The genus resting on these charac- 

 ters alone is composed of very incongruous elements. To it are referred, at page 277 of 

 the second volume, the following species, all of which are described as species of Clinus 



by Valenciennes: Labrosomus gobio, L. pectinifer, L. capillatus, L. dt'lalandii, L. lin- 

 earis, L. variolosus, L. perumanus, L. microcirrhis, L. ? gvniguttatus, L. elegans, L. ? lit- 

 toreus and L. latipinnis. Of these species, not more than 3 can, with propriety, be regarded 

 as congeners, if the Labrosomus pectinifer is taken as the type. These are Labrosomus 

 pectinifer, L. capillatus, and perhaps L. delalandii. The latter is more probably the repre- 

 sentative of a distinct genus. That genus is distinguished from Labrosomus by the smaller 

 mouth, the presence of only 2 rays to the ventral fins, and perhaps by the undulating mar- 

 gin of the spinous portion of the dorsal fin. It may be named Malacoctenus, in allusion to 

 the pectiniform row of filaments. This genus is the nearest ally of Labrosomus. All the 

 others are very distinct. Labrisomus gobio Swainson, is the type of quite a distinct genus 

 whose characters consist of a broad, depressed head, with a very short muzzle, large ap- 

 proximated eyes, superciliary and nasal tentacles, 2 ventral rays, and a comparatively short 

 spinous dorsal. The genus may be called Gobioclinus. The only species, Gobioclinu's gobio, 

 is found in the West Indies, and has but 18 dorsal spines. Labrisomus linearis Swainson 

 is synonymous with Clinus brachycephalus, Valenciennes. This, also, is the type of a 



