Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 753 



rest of the head, its base formed of the lengthened symplectic quadrate 

 and pterygoid ; teeth very small ; premaxillary forming most of margin 

 of mouth, the maxillary exposed at the corner. Branchiostegals 4. Gill* 

 membranes slightly connected, free from the isthmus. Dorsal fin with 

 many small, low, free spines, each of which is depressible in a groove; soft 

 dorsal short, elevated in front ; anal similar to the second dorsal, preceded 

 by a single spine ; caudal fin small, forked. An oblong, naked area in front 

 of the pectorals. Ventrals subthoracic, very close together, inserted 

 somewhat behind pectorals, I, 4. Vertebra? 25 -{-29, those behind anal 

 exceedingly compressed. Anterior vertebra? little enlarged. Genera 2; 

 (Aulorhynchus and Aulichthys); species 2. Small fishes of the North 

 Pacific, very close to the sticklebacks, intermediate between them and 

 the trumpet-fishes, (Aulorhynchidce, Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1862, 

 233.) 

 a. Skill of head naked ; pectoral fins emarginate. AULORHYNCHTJS, 340. 



340. AULORHYNCHUS, Gill. 



Aulorh/incJius, GILL, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1861, 169, (flavidus). 

 Auliscops, PETERS, Berliner Monatsberichte, 1866, 570, (spinescens). 



Body very long and slender, almost cylindrical; caudal peduncle elon- 

 gate, tapering, much depressed, especially posteriorly. Skin naked, with 

 a series of small, rugose shields, one on each side of the lateral line, a 

 dorsal row to which the spines are attached, and a row on the lower edge 

 of caudal peduncle. These plates closely resemble the dorsal plates, having 

 a groove through the middle in which for a short distance behind the anal 

 there lies a fin ray, besides small pores, probably mucous pores. Lateral 

 line present. Head not mailed. Mouth small, horizontal, at the end.of 

 a tube which is slightly longer than the rest of the head. Premaxillary 

 bones much expanded, with long and slender processes; lower jaw pro- 

 jecting, with a flap at symphysis. Teeth in the jaws rather sharp, almost 

 in one series; palate toothless. Dorsal spines numerous, entirely sepa- 

 rate, equal and very short, the first inserted above the pectorals; dorsal 

 and anal fins posterior, nearly equal, oblong, elevated in front; caudal 

 fin small, emarginate ; pectoral fins emarginate, the upper and lower rays 

 longest ; ventrals not much behind pectorals, each with 1 spine and 4 rays. 

 , a tube; /uvy^oc, snout.) 



The gill formula is as follows according to Mr. Kutter: 



F. N. A.- 



