Vol. 3] Starks-M orris. — Marine Fishes. 227 



depressed and keeled. Specimens examined from Mendocino 

 Connty, 1% inches in length, contained mature eggs. 



We are unable to distinguish between this species and Gil- 

 lichthys detrusus Gilbert and Scofield. None of the alleged dif- 

 ferences are valid except that of color, the latter species being 

 everywhere lighter. GiJliclitJiys detrusus can not therefore be 

 considered as a separate species. 



This species is known from Puget Sound (Jordan & Starks, 

 1895, p. 839) to the Gulf of California (Evermann & Jenkins, 

 1891, p. 162), living in burrows on the mud flats. The adults 

 may be known at once by the long maxillary, which reaches in 

 the larger specimens past the gill opening. 



202. duietula y-cauda (Jenkins and Evermann). 

 (Jordan & Evermann, 1898, III, p. 2251.) 



This species was found everywhere abundant in San Diego 

 Bay. It differs from Ilijpnus gilberti and Clevelandia ios in 

 being generally larger and in having the occipital region of the 

 skull keeled, rather than transversely rounded. From the former 

 it differs in having one or two more flaps on the inner edge of the 

 shoulder girdle ; in the body being stouter ; and in color. From 

 the latter it may be known by its having flaps rather than papilla? 

 on the shoulder girdle. 



The first dorsal usually has 5 spines, but in one specimen from 

 San Luis Gonzales Bay there are 6 ; the soft dorsal usually has 15 

 rays, or rarely 16; the anal has 14, or sometimes 15 rays. There 

 is a series of elongate spots along the median line of the side, the 

 one at the base of the caudal being Y-shaped. 



There is a wider range of variation in this species than in the 

 other related forms. Some San Diego specimens are more elong- 

 ate in form and usually darker colored than others. Some have 

 very dark heads, especially on the under side, while the body is 

 uniformly light, or moderately dark ; large dark spots on pectoral 

 and ventral, and a very dark anal with a light border. 



The type, which the U. S. National Museum has loaned us. 

 agrees in coloration with our light specimens. We have also re- 



