1448 Bulletin 4.7, United States National Museum. 



the fresh-water Lepipterus bonariensis. Agassiz's figure of Scicena adusta 

 shows 19 or 20 soft dorsal rays. This is apparently an error of the artist, 

 while the description which gives 28 soft dorsal rays is a slip or misprint 

 of the author. Dr. Carlos Berg (Ann. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires 1895, 53) 

 observes: "The number of rays of the vertical fins is somewhat variable, 

 as is also the intensity of the oblique dusky streaks. I observe the follow- 

 ing formula: D.X-I, 23toX-I,26; A. II, 7 or 8. Scales 51 to 60." (adustiis, 

 scorched brown.) 



Scicena (Corvina) adusta, AGASSIZ, Spix. Brasil., 126, pi. 70, 1829, Montevideo. 

 Scicena adusta, JORDAN &, EIGENMANN, Review Scisenidce, 403, 1889; BERG, Ann. Mus. 

 Nac. Buenos Aires 1895, 53. 



1830. OPHIOSCION TYPICUS, Gill. 



Head 3; depth 3; eye 3f in head; snout 3f. D. X-I, 22; A. II. 7; 

 scales 5-50-7. Anterior profile more or less concave, especially in old 

 examples, the head being very low and slender; caudal fin lanceolate, 

 almost as long as head ; snout short and bluntish, projecting a little beyond 

 the premaxillaries, about as long as eye; mouth small, low, maxillary 

 extending to below middle of eye, 2| in head; teeth in both jaws in mod- 

 erate bands, the outer series of the upper jaw enlarged; highest dorsal 

 spine If in head; anal spine very thick, strong, as long as the rays, If in 

 head ; pectorals about as long as A'entrals ; first ventral ray filiform. Color, 

 grayish; anal and ventral fins largely black. Panama, not uncommon. 

 In its slender head and lanceolate caudal fin it would seem to differ widely 

 from most of the related forms. Its relations with 0. scierus are, however, 

 close, and O. imiceps is evidently intermediate, (typicus, typical.) 

 Ophioscion typicus, GILL, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1863, 165, west coast Central 



America. 



Corvina ophioscion, GUNTHER, Fish. Central America, 387 and 428, 1866, Panama. 

 Scicena ophioscion, JORDAN & GILBERT, Bull. U. S. Fish Comm. 1881, 315. 

 Scicena typica*, JORDAN & EIGENMANN, I. c., 404, 1889. 



1831. OPHIOSCION STRABO, Gilbert. 



Head3f; depth 3^. D. X-I, 22 or 23; A. 11,6; eye 4 to 4| in head; snout 

 3|; maxillary 3J to 3| ; highest dorsal spine If to If; dorsal ray 2^; anal 

 ray 1-J; caudal 3| in length; pectorals 4|; ventrals 5; scales 5 or 6-49-10. 

 Closely allied to O. typicus, having the same general shape and the elon- 

 gated caudal, which is longer than head. It differs conspicuously in its 

 much smaller eye, its heavier, shorter snout, which barely protrudes 

 beyond the mouth, and its longer, less numerous, preopercular spines. 

 Snout bluntly rounded, little projecting, the mouth short and broad com- 

 pared with 0. typicus. Anterior upper profile very concave, rising rapidly 

 from occiput to dorsal, growing sharply compressed. Mouth moderately 

 oblique, subterminal, the snout protruding beyond the premaxillaries for 

 a distance (measured axially) equaling ^ diameter of pupil; maxillary 



*The undesirability of such words as "typicus" as specific names is very evident in 

 this case. In following the 'law of priority in referring the species to Scicenci, the species 

 has possessed a name which is self-contradictory, as this is one of the species most unlike 

 the real type of Scicena. If Ophioscion is recognized, this solecism is not evident. 



