33 SICYOPTERUS 305 



the others; the scales largest along middle of sides, smaller on 

 posterior half of caudal peduncle and beneath pectoral, much 

 reduced in size before first dorsal, extending forward on nape 

 nearly to eyes; the scales behind ventral very small, none in 

 front of it; the dorsals well separated, the third and fourth, 

 or second, third, and fourth spines with elongated and thread- 

 like tips, sometimes excessively lengthened, the fourth always 

 longest; sometimes all the spines may have more or less elon- 

 gated tips ; the first dorsal always extends to second dorsal when 

 depressed and the fourth spine may reach almost to posterior end 

 of base of second dorsal, and is contained from 4.25 to 2.3 times 

 in length of head and trunk; the second dorsal low, the middle 

 rays longest, their tips extended much beyond the membrane, 

 sometimes elongate and the rays then equal to or exceeding depth 

 but typically about $ to 0.8 the depth, 1.77 times in head or 

 exceptionally equal to head, rarely touching the accessory caudal 

 rays when depressed and typically falling much short of caudal 

 base ; the anal lower, the posterior rays longest but always fall- 

 ing far short of caudal when depressed, 1.4 to 1.85 in depth 

 and 1.4 to 2.2 times in head; the caudal peduncle wide, 1.25 to 

 1.5 times in its own length; the caudal varies from somewhat 

 pointed to rounded, 3.9 to 4.5 times in length, usually a little 

 shorter than head but sometimes slightly exceeding it; the 

 pointed pectoral equals caudal; the ventrals nearly circular, 

 often broader than long, 1.85 to 1.95 times in head and 2.3 

 tc 2.66 times in distance to anus. 



The color in alcohol dull brownish gray, which may change 

 to yellowish brown in specimens long kept; there are about 

 seven blackish double dorsal crossbars, the four posterior ones 

 running diagonally forward down the side, the anterior ones 

 short, the first one on nape; the belly and throat white. 



The top and sides of snout marbled with darker; the front 

 of snout and upper lip more or less purplish dusky; a conspic- 

 uous deep black spot or bar, as wide as eye at its upper end, 

 beginning on lower margin of eye and extending downward 

 to above posterior angle of maxillary; a vague dusky blotch on 

 opercle; a blackish bar begins under pectoral and passes back 

 along side to tip of caudal fin, which is all black with a narrow 

 pale margin above and below; the lateral band often disappears 

 in old specimens ; the first dorsal clear, the posterior part mar- 

 bled with irregular, wavy, dark longitudinal lines, or irregular 

 spots ; the rays of second dorsal dusky greenish, the membranes 



