2162 Bulletin ^7, United States National Museum. 



narrowed above, the width of the nape between the occipital spines 4 to 

 4 in head; head moderately elongate, not elevated; eyes not prominent, 

 the profile from snout to nape almost straight or slightly convex ; snout 

 broad, of about equal length and breadth, 2 to 2f in head; anterior mar- 

 gin emarginate; preorbital little projecting, its edge with about 15 to 20 

 fine serrse, the anterior strongest with the exception of the last one, which 

 is directed backward. Surface of bones of head smoother than usual in 

 this genus and with fine radiating granular striae, those on opercles, 

 cheeks, and top of head most strongly developed. Mouth rather large, 

 maxillary 2- in head, reaching slightly beyond anterior orbital rim. Band 

 of palatine teeth narrow. Orbital rim not especially elevated, its edges 

 granulated, especially anteriorly, preorbital and postorbital spines small 

 and blunt; interorbital not deeply concave, rather wide, its least width 

 4f to 5 in head; no groove across top of head behind orbital rim; occipital 

 ridges present, the inner very low, ending in a very small spine; outer 

 large, ending in a moderate spine, the pair diverging, their inner edges 

 serrulate, the spines extending to nearly opposite first dorsal spine ; tem- 

 poral region with a slight elevated roughish ridge, but no spine; preoper- 

 cular spine long and sharp, its anterior edge somewhat serrulate, no 

 smaller spine below it and none on suborbital stay ; opercular and humeral 

 spines well developed, sharp; no trace of spines on suborbital or preor- 

 bital. There are but 3 distinct spines on each side of the head, occipital, 

 opercular, and preopercular. Membranaceous flap of opercle with a few 

 scales. Gill rakers long and slender, about equal to \ diameter of eye, 

 8 to 10 well developed. Scales quite small, those on breast (between ven- 

 trals) larger than those on belly or throat; scales extending beyond base 

 of pectorals to isthmus ; about 12 to 15 rows between occiput and front of 

 dorsal. Spinous dorsal rather low; first spine not strongly serrulate, f 

 length of second, which is 2-J- in head; first ray of second dorsal weakly 

 serrulate at base; longest ray shorter than snout and slightly less than 3 

 in head; longest anal ray 3 in head; caudal lunate, \\ to If in head; 

 pectoral generally reaching last dorsal ray, a little more than \ body; 

 ventrals reaching vent, If to 1 in head. Coloration in spirits, grayish, 

 unspotted, more dusky above ; spinous dorsal dusky, a distinct black spot 

 between fifth and sixth spines; soft dorsal with 3 rows of diffuse spots; 

 caudal dusky on the outer f and base; pectorals mostly black, with faint 

 pale cloudings ; ventrals and anal pale ; body largely red in life. Eelated 

 to Prionotus stephanophrys, Lockington, but the interorbital area concave; 

 the bones of head much striate and granulated, and the caudal differently 

 colored. It also bears some resemblance to the Atlantic species Prionotus 

 stearnsi. Pacific Ocean, the types taken off the coast of Colombia ; abundant 

 in various places in 7 to 60 fathoms; also found at Albatross Station 3039, 

 in the Gulf of California, (quiescens, resting quietly.) 



Prionotus quiescens, JORDAN & BOLLMAN, Proc. TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 1889, 166, off Pacific coast 

 of Colombia, at Albatross Stations 2800,2801,2802, and 2805. (Type, No. 41153, U. S. 

 Nat. Mus. Coll. Albatross.) 



