Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America, 2089 



aa. Body very slender, the depth about 8 in length, the head 5 to 6 ; plates in lateral line 

 more than 40. 

 c. ]STasal spines present; no median dorsal row of plates behind occiput. 



ASPIDOPHOROIDES : 



d. About 48 (or fewer) plates in dorsal series; temporal ridge ending pos- 

 teriorly in a slight elevation. Atlantic coast. 



MONOPTERYGIUS, 2431. 



dd. 49 or 50 pairs of plates in dorsal series ; temporal ridge not ending pos- 

 teriorly in ji slight ridge. Pacific coast. BARTONI, 2432. 

 ANOPLAGONUS (aroTrAo?, unarmed; Agonus): 



cc. Nasal spines absent ; a median dorsal row of small plates from occiput half- 

 way to dorsal. INERMIS, 2433. 



Subgenus ULCINA, Cramer. 

 2429. ASPIDOPHOROIDES OLR1KI, Liitken. 



D. 6 or 7; A. 6 or 7; P. 13 or 14; V. 3 (I, 2) ; C. 10 (Liitken). Form short 

 and thick compared wiihA.monopUrygitu, depressed anteriorly, posteriorly 

 narrower and somewhat angular. Nape and fore part of back concave ; 

 forehead strongly arched antero-posteriorly. Interorbital space concave, 

 supraorbital ridges high. Ventral surface flat. Greatest breadth, over 

 opercles, f of length of head, the latter 4^ to 4 in total length, its greatest 

 height, at shoulder, of length of head. One pair of nasal spines ; a single 

 barbel at angle of mouth (at tip of maxillary, as in other Aspidophoroides,) 

 overlooked in the original description. Pectorals large, about as long as 

 head; other fins small; all rays simple ; anal under dorsal, about mid way 

 between head and caudal ; ventrals inserted a little behind base of pectorals. 

 Eyes large, their diameter or a little less in length of head, longer than 

 snout. Mouth small, its angle in line with anterior edge of orbit. Vent 

 large, lying with its surrounding naked area about 2 pairs of plates dis- 

 tant from base of ventrals. Gill membranes united. Eight longitudinal 

 rows of plates on body, 6 on tail. In dorsal series 36 to 38, the posterior 

 12 or 13 on tail, median unpaired ; in front of dorsal, 14 to 16 pairs. Supe- 

 rior lateral (lateral line) series 36 to 38; inferior lateral series 35 to 37; on 

 breast 12 to 14, paired and unpaired. Two unpaired plates between vent 

 and ventrals (from ventrals to anal about 12 pairs). Teeth on jaws, 

 vomer, and palatines. Fin rays, dorsal 6, anal 6, in 3 individuals, 5 in 

 each fin in the fourth individual (6 or 7 in each fin in the Greenland speci- 

 mens) ; pectorals 13 to 15 (in 2 specimens, 14 in 1 fin and 15 in the other) ; 

 veutrals 3 (I, 2) ; caudal 10 or 11, the eleventh very short. Color more uni- 

 form dark gray on back than those previously described (a few very 

 indefinite dark cross bands) ; a large dark patch on preopercle and oper- 

 cle seems to be quite constant ; the dark spots on pectorals and caudal 

 form cross bands when the fins are folded; tips of dorsal, anal, and ven- 

 tral fins in general white, but the white patch is wanting in 1 specimen, 

 which is paler than the others, has a smaller head and shorter ventrals. 

 This is undoubtedly a female ; the others males. Holm's notes on the color 

 of the newly caught specimens say, " Sides of back greenish, with brown 

 markings, otherwise whitish." Arctic Ocean; known from west coast of 

 Greenland, Davis Strait, at 32 fathoms ; our specimens from Godhavn, Kara 

 3030 54 



