COTTOIDS. 107 



equal to the width of tlio intororbital space, longer than the snout. Margins 

 of the disk hardly to be described as swollen. Subopercular tubercle weak, 

 small, four to six spined on small specimens, almost imperceptible on larger 

 ones. Gills two; rakers short, round, five to six on first and second arches;. 

 gill openings small, placed superiorly in the axillas, backward of the sub- 

 opercular angle. Branchiostegal rays six, slender, outer one stronger and 

 joined to the opercular bones. Scales tubercular, comparatively small, close 

 together, with slender cusps and striated spreading bases ; commonly larger 

 and hooked in several rows at each side of the tail, at each side of the 

 papilltB of the lateral line, and along the edges of the disk. A larger, more 

 prominent spine at the end of the rostrum, another behind each eye, a pair 

 near the middle of each eye on the interorbital space, and another pair 

 immediately behind the nasal sac. Spines of the lower surfaces smaller. 

 Lateral line distinct, deeply excavated around the edge of the disk. In 

 Fig. 2 of Plate XXI. the second papilla at each side of the symphysis below 

 the mouth is not indicated ; it lies forward of the space between the first 

 and the third of the series. The fringes on the lobes at the sides of the 

 papillae do not appear to be either numerous or greatly developed. The 

 caud.al section of the male is apparently longer than that of the female. 



Dorsal originating close to the middle of the total length, midway from 

 the occiput to the base of the caudal ; anal origin one length of the eye 

 farther back than base of dorsal, fin length equal that of the latter, two 

 thirds as long as the caudal, pointed ; caudal narrow, as long as the skull, 

 rounded on the hind margin ; pectorals medium, fringed, rounded on the 

 outer margin, short in the hinder rays ; ventrals small, fringed, narrow, 

 little shorter than the pectorals. 



Translucent whitish to brown, with or without cloudings or spots, Fig. 1, 

 Plate XXI. Traces of brilliant red colors appear on light colored individuals 

 and on some the lateral lobes of the illicium are deep red, while the median 

 lobe is of cream color ; the illicium varies from light color to dark brown. 



Specimen drawn five and one half inches in length. 



The only Cottoids secured by the expedition are shoal water forms. 

 For the greater part the group is made up of species living on the bottom, 



