OPHICHTIIYS (CRYPTOPTERUS) FRONTALIS. 309 



Mouth wide, cleft to a vertical from the hinder border ol' tlie pupil. Teeth 

 small, subcouical, subequal, in bands on jaws and vomer ; vomerine band 

 narrowing backward and ending at a vertical from the front edge of the 

 eye ; the group at the head of the vomer not separated from the band on 

 the shaft or from the bands on the jaws. Gill openings hardly equal to the 

 length of the eye, separated on the chest by a space greater than their 

 width, extending upward over less than half of the pectoral base. Mucous 

 cavities of the head greatly developed ; pores larger and elongate on the 

 forward portion of the snout. 



Dorsal and anal of medium development, continuous with the caudal. 

 Dorsal origin the length of the mouth backward from the bases of the 

 pectorals. Anal origin distant from the end of the snout two and one third 

 times the length of the head, below the fift3'-fourth ray of the dorsal. 

 Caudal short, narrow, pointed. Pectorals short, as long as the mouth, com- 

 paratively deep, broadly rounded, reaching when applied to the side of the 

 head one third of the distance to the middle of the eye or one fourth of 

 that to the end of the snout. 



Lateral line distinct, somewhat arched above the gills. Vent below the 

 fifty-third ray of the dorsal. 



Total length ten and one half inches. 



Blackish above the lateral line ; dark chocolate brown below, excepting 

 on the lower surface of the head, the lateral line, and the bases of the fins, 

 which are white. Dorsal and anal are yellowish white in their proximal 

 halves, black in the distal portions, and each pectoral has a large blotch of 

 black on the upper and hinder portion of the fin. The linings of the gill 

 chamber are black, of the mouth white, and of the abdomen silvery. 



Specific name from that of Prof. B. W. Evermann of the United States 

 Fish Commission. 



Ophichthys (Cryptopterus) frontalis sp. n. 



Br. r. 22 ; D. 279 ; A. 177 ; P. 21 ; Vertebra) 63 + 94 (63 to end of body 

 cavity, or 53 to vent). 



Moderately elongate, slightly compressed, tapering gradually, entire 

 caudal region rather thick. Head somewhat large, one third as long as the 

 body, or one seventh of the entire length ; crown broad, in a low arch from 



