2038 Bulletin 4.7, United States National Museum. 



Agonomalus proboscida 



SAUVAGE, Kouv. Arch. Museum Hist. Nat., Paris (2), I, 1878, 157. 



761. HYPSAGONUS, Gill. 



Hypsagonus, GILL, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1861, 259 (quadricornis). 

 Cheiragonus, HERZENSTEIN, Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. de St. Petersb., xm, 1890 116, (gra- 

 diens = quadricornis) . 



Body compressed, elevated, depth greater than length of head, more 

 than i of body ; head small, separated from first dorsal by a very deep 

 nuchal depression; top of head very uneven, 1 pair of large supraocular 

 and 1 pair of large occipital spines, strong, blunt; mouth terminal, jaws 

 about equal, a large barbel or none at tip of snout; teeth on jaws, none 

 on vomer or palatines ; gill membranes united, free from isthmus; scales 

 or plates large, radially striated, with a central spine or tubercle; 2 rows 

 of strong and 2 of weaker spines along side of body; dorsal fin long, 

 high, beginning immediately behind nape, the spines strong, the first ser- 

 rated; pectorals short, procurrent, the lower 8 or 9 rays free; ventrals 

 small; vent nearly halfway between ventrals and anal, (vi/n- high; 

 Agonus.) 



2400. HIPSAGONUS QUADRICORNIS* (Cuvier & Valenciennes). 



Br. 6; D. IX to XI (rarely IX, usually X), 6 or 7; A. 9 or 10; P. 13 or 14; 

 V. 3 (I, 2); C. 13; vertebra / 8 (36). Pyloric ca3ca 5 (2 individuals). 

 Body strongly compressed throughout its length. Abdomen swollen 

 (much less in male than female) about /o of the depth, the latter 3 to 4f 

 (usually about 4) in the length; body much narrower under second dor- 

 sal, only about ^ of depth. Back rises almost perpendicularly behind the 

 nape, slopes downward to end of first dorsal, rises gently to base of sec- 

 ond dorsal, then sinks and rises again to base of caudal; ventral outline 

 gently convex. Plates distributed in general as in the other Agonoids, 

 but with many deviations in detail. Interspaces inembranaceons, studded 

 with a variable number of small plates; vent nearly halfway between 

 ventrals and anal, the membrane between it and ventrals with scattered 

 plates; plates of ventrolateral series small, the spines short, blunt, 

 strongest from vent to anal; those of the inferior lateral series elongated 

 vertically, beginning behind middle of base of pectorals, with long, 

 strong, curved spines, which rise abruptly from the center of the plates, 

 growing smaller posteriorly, minute at base of caudal, their number vary- 

 ing from 28 to 30. The series of the lateral line consists of 7 to 9 plates 



* Diagnosis: Body sii- 

 width 3 to 4? in depth 



~ ~y ^ 7 * ^v/^ uu , luwo ui nuug mm 01 weaiter spines aiong sine 01 uoay; a 

 strong spine above base of pectoral; head 3 ; preopercular spL, j present, large; 1 pair 

 large supraocular and 1 pair large occipital spines, strong and blunt. Body abruptly ele- 

 vated behind nape; first dorsal long, high, beginning immediately behind nape; 8 or 9 

 lowi rays of pectoral tree; plates in dorsal series about 33 to 35; between dorsals about 

 hr ! l8 ii 4 y * 'I 111 / 10 barbel at tiP of snout; no median rostral plate: gill membranes 

 3d, tree ironi isthmus; no teeth on vomer or palatines; vent nearly halfway 

 *i?^L 11 i .^ aL Color ' froilt half ot> bod v blackish violet (variable), hinder 

 halt pale, yellowieh, with 2 or 3 narrow dark bands ; caudal with dark baud distally. 



