PEIONOTUS FRONTALIS. 109 



Hejvd one tliird of the total length, two tliirds as wide as long, as wide as 

 deep, widest behind the month, narrow at the crown, high and arched from 

 the front of the orbit to the nape. Snont moderately broad, subtrnncate, 

 nearly straight on the top, arched transversely, one and three fifths times as 

 long as tlie orbit, narrowing forward, with denticulations at the sides, above 

 the maxillary, and with a comb-like series of eight larger denticles in front 

 of the nostrils at each side of the symphysis. Nostrils small ; posterior a 

 longitndinal slit, midway from the eye to the end of the snout; anterior 

 subtnbular with a fold reaching to the posterior nostril. Mouth wide, hori- 

 zontal ; maxillary reaching a vertical from the front edge of the eye. 

 Teeth in villiform bands on jaws, vomer, and palatines ; palatine bands 

 about three times as long as wide. Orbits prominent above the crown, one 

 fourth as long as the head. Interorbital space a narrow trough, the width 

 of which is half the length of the orbit, half as wide as long, bounded pos- 

 teriorly by a transverse groove that is bent backward in the middle. Head 

 plates with radiating finely granulate ridges. A short spine above the for- 

 ward part of the orbit on the orbital ridge ; a larger one above the hinder 

 portion of the orbit ; a low spine-like prominence at each side of the oc- 

 ciput, and another on the suprascapular; opercular and subopercular spines 

 strong and sharp, coracold spine shorter ; two to three tubercular promi- 

 nences immediately behind the eye. Scales small, harsh, ctenoid, absent 

 from the space on the nape between the suprascapulaj, and at each side of 

 the base of the first dorsal. Lateral line with fifty-two pores. 



Anterior spine of first dorsal half as long as the head, nearly equal to 

 length of fin base ; forward edges of first two or three spines rough with 

 denticles or granulations ; first ray of second dorsal similarly roughened. 

 Anal originating below origin of second dorsal but base and fin extending 

 nearer to the caudal than in the latter. Caudal length equal to greatest 

 length of second dorsal, three fifths as long as the head, fin concave on 

 the hind margin. Pectoral rather narrow, pointed, longest ray four fifths 

 of the length of the head. Fifth ventral ray three fifths as long as the 

 head ; first ray short, spinelike. Ends of rays in all the fins more or less 

 exserted. 



Four pyloric appendages. Females of the length of four inches contain 

 well developed eggs. 



Back grayish brown, more or less freckled with brown, with brownish 

 streaks extending; from the middle of the back forward and down to the 



