Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 2039 



(sometimes varying 011 the 2 sides of the same animal), the first 2 (occa- 

 sionally the first 3) very large, supplying the lack of plates in the supe- 

 rior lateral series anteriorly and sometimes apparently forming a part of 

 this series, their spines long, strong, and curved; remaining 5 or 6 plates 

 distributed at varying distances along wide of body, small, but sometimes 

 provided with small spines; the superior lateral scries begins under about 

 the seventh spine of first dorsal and runs in a straight line to caudal, the 

 spines a little smaller than those of the inferior lateral series, and vary 

 from 25 to 27 in number (plus the 2 or 3 plates of the lateral line Avheu 

 they appear to belong to this series). The dorsolateral series begins 

 behind occipital spine and follows outline of back close under dorsals, 33 

 to :;.") pairs; plates small, with tubercles or blunt spines. Between the 

 dorsolateral series and the base of each dorsal fin is a supplementary 

 series of very small tuberculated plates or prickles; those under the 

 anterior fin sometimes become apparently continuous with the dorso- 

 lateral series, crowding the anterior plates of the latter downward; about 

 5 pairs between dorsal fins. Behind pectoral, between the inferior lat- 

 eral series and the large anterior pore plates there are usually 2 or 3 plates, 

 of which 1 or 2 sometimes bear minute spines; 1 plate with a large, strong 

 spine just above base of pectoral; none in front of the fin, which is close 

 to gill opening. iX'o plates 011 branchiostegal membranes or lower jaw. 

 Head compressed, snout 3^; nearly as wide as high across preopercle, 

 much narrower under orbits. Orbits large, circular, high up, 3 in head. 

 Interorbital space wide behind, much narrower in front, concave; supra- 

 orbital ridges high, shelving outward over eye, ending in strong spines 

 directed outward, upward, and a little backward, in front of the base of 

 which there is a very small (uie, usually in the form of a tubercle of vari- 

 able size (most distinct in the young). Preorbital with 2 or 3 ridges radi- 

 ating from anterior inferior border of orbit, its edge scalloped; suborbital 

 with a strong, compressed spine projecting nearly at a right angle; pre- 

 opercle with a strong, compressed, curved spine, and below it 2 or 3 flat- 

 tened smaller ones; nasal spines strong, curved, separate, somewhat 

 diverging; 1 or 2 or no plates on lower part of cheek; no median rostral 

 plate. Barbel at tip of snout, above premaxillaries, varying much in 

 length, frequently entirely absent. Mouth small, terminal; maxillary 

 reaching front of orbit. Teeth on jaws; none on vomer or palatines. 

 Angle of jaws prominent, tubercular. Gill membranes broadly united, 

 free from isthmus. First dorsal about 2-J- times as long as second, high, 

 its spines strong, nearly upright, the first very, and some of the others 

 somewhat, granulated or beset with prickles ; the anterior spines but little 

 exserted; membrane stretched. Second dorsal low, its rays stiff; caudal 

 nearly truncate, its width at base about If in length ; anal long, begin- 

 ning under posterior end of first dorsal and ending opposite posterior end 

 of second dorsal ; 2 or 3 of the posterior rays (except the last) longest, all 

 the rays much, the anterior more than half, exserted; ventrals of female 8 

 or 9 in length of body; in male longer, 6 to 7 in body length. Abdom- 

 inal region much swollen in female. Lateral line, pores 15 to 19, in pairs, 

 except the first. Vent nearly halfway between ventrals and anal. Color 



