Jorda n and Evermann . Fishes of North A merica . 2389 



downward to a point varying from a little above to a little below middle 

 of base of pectoral, the height of the slit 3 in head. Lateral line not 

 reaching tip of pectoral. Dorsal fin continuous, the spines low and rather 

 stiff, slenderer than in H.punctatus, the longest spines a little lower than 

 the soft rays, which are about 1 in head. Caudal free from anal, slightly 

 connected with dorsal; a little shorter than head; pectoral about as long 

 as head; ventrals shorter than head. Color of female clear olive green, 

 with only traces of darker bars; body everywhere densely freckled with 

 small round blackish spots, smaller than the pupil ; on the sides and lower 

 part of head these spots are reduced to close-set dots; 2 dark lines, 

 separated by a golden area, downward from eye ; a vertical curved black- 

 ish patch behind eye, in front of which is a golden area; vertical fins 

 olive green, dorsal and caudal usually mottled with dusky; paired fins 

 dusky olive; lower parts of head tinged with golden, sometimes with 

 dusky cross bars ; cirri green. 



The male (scrutator) is thus described : Head 4 (4f in total) ; depth 3| (4|). 

 D. XII, 14 or 15; A. II, 15 or 16. Body rather deep, compressed, the back 

 not elevated. Head short, very blunt, almost as deep as long, the profile 

 abruptly descending before eye, the snout about length of head. Mouth 

 very small, anterior, the maxillary extending to opposite front of eye, 3 

 in head; teeth subequal, without canines^ Orbital cirri very long, reach- 

 ing when depressed about to the front of dorsal, their length more than - 

 head in adult, somewhat shorter in young ; a short branch near its middle. 

 Nasal barbel minute. Eye large, much broader than the concave interor- 

 bital space, about 4 in head. Lower edge of gill opening a little below 

 middle of base of pectoral, the depth of the slit 2 to 3 in head. Dorsal fin 

 scarcely emargiuate, the spines rather stiff, lower than the soft rays, the 

 longest spine 2 in head. Caudal slightly connected at base with dorsal, 1 

 in head; pectoral about as long as head, reaching past front of anal; 

 ventrals If in head. Lateral line extending to base of eighth spine, not to 

 tip of pectoral. Color in life, deep olive green, almost immaculate, or with 

 faint traces of darker vertical bars; a golden blotch behind eye, behind 

 which is a dusky crescent; 2 dark bars downward from eye, separated by 

 a yellowish area; fins all dusky greenish, nearly or quite immaculate; 

 front of spinous dorsal blackish. South Carolina to Texas, in rock pools; 

 numerous specimens, the largest about 2 inches long, were obtained with 

 hook and line from the wharves at Pensacola. (iorQd$, freckled.) 



Isesthes ionthas, JORDAN & GILBERT, Proc. "U. S. Nat. Mus. 1882, 299, Pensacola, Florida 



(Type, No. 30856, U. S. Nat. Mus. Coll. Jordan & Stearns), female ; JORDAN & GILBERT, 



Synopsis, 960, 1883. 



Isesthes scrutator, * JORDAN & GILBERT, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1882, 300, Pensacola (Type, 



No. 30850. (Coll. Jordan & Stearns) ; Galveston (Coll. Dr. August Galny) ; JORDAN & 



GILBERT, Synopsis, 960, 1883. 



*The form called scrutator agrees very closely with Hypsoblennius ionthas in all respects 

 except the great length of the orbital cirrus and the different coloration of the body. In 

 both the golden blotch and dark crescent behind the eye are distinct, as also the 2 dark bars 

 separated by a yellow one below the eye. Renewed comparison strengthens our impres- 

 sion that Hypsoblennius scrutator is the male of Hypsoblennius ionthas. 



