CENTRISTHMUS SIGNIFKR. 49 



the snout, more than one fourth of the length of the head. Preopercle with 

 numerous fine and regular serrations on the hinder edge, with larger and 

 more irregular ones on the lower edge, and with a large sharp compressed 

 spine on the angle. Opercle with three flat spines, median stronger and 

 nearer the lower, which is very weak. Margin of gill cover thin, concave 

 on the edge both above and below the median opercular spine. Urohval 

 very long, as long as the snout and the eye together, npper portion thin, 

 ending in a sharp retrorse angle; lower portion less compressed, hinder ex- 

 tremity a long sharp point, in front of which there is a groove on the lower 

 edge, middle with a strong antrorse spine. By great length in the urohyal 

 necessity of much forward extent in the shoulder girdle is obviated; in the 

 present species the halves of the girdle are more nearly erect and straio-ht. 

 Gills four; rakers short, longest more than half as long as the eye, slender, 

 nine plus twenty-four; membranes hardly united, free from the isthmus; 

 suprabranchial gland of moderate size, bent forward in its npper half. 

 Pseudobranchire well developed. 



Origin of the dorsal above the upper angle of the gill opening ; third spine 

 very long, with its pennant as long as the head, other spines hardly as long 

 as the snout; longest soft rays twice as long as the spinous. Anal medium, 

 third spine longest, first spine below the first soft ray of the dorsal. Caudal 

 three fourths of the length of the head, lobes sharp, notch deep and rounded. 

 Pectorals smaller than the ventrals, pointed. Ventrals one third longer than 

 the pectorals, reaching the spinous rays of the anal, inserted below the 

 bases of the pectorals, third and fourth rays forming a very long point. 



Scales small, ctenoid, covering body, cheeks and interorbital space, and to 

 some extent the bases of the caudal fin and of the paired fins, absent from 

 the bases of the dorsal and of the anal and from the maxillaries and the 

 lower jaws, as also from a short transverse area behind the interorbital 

 region. Lateral line complete, nearl}' straight to a point below the seventh 

 dorsal ra}', from which it is distant about seven scales, thence it continues 

 nearly parallel with the vertebral outline to the base of the tail. Three large 

 pjdoric appendages. Air bladder of moderate size. 



Color probably red in life, darker on the back with faint freckles of 

 brown, with short streaks or spots of brownish on the crown, with cheeks 

 and lower portions of head and body silver. In cases the scaleless area 

 back of the crown is darker, and a darker shade in the middle of each scale 

 gives the sides a streaked appearance. 



4 



