ZooL.— Vol. III.] GILBERT— PACIFIC COAST FISHES. 259 



being separated by a distance slightly less than the width of 

 the interorbital space. 



The vent is nearer the base than the tip of the pectoral 

 fins, the anal fin beginning immediately behind it. In this 

 respect our specimen agrees closely with the type of N. 

 avocetta, and differs from the specimen reported on by Dr. 

 Jordan (Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 2d ser. v. 6, 1896, p. 205, 

 pi. xxi) , in which the vent is under the extreme tip of the pec- 

 torals. In the figure above cited, the vent is made to appear 

 still more remote from the head; but in this the artist was 

 in error, as a re-examination of the specimen has shown. 

 The variation in the position of the vent, shown by the three 

 known specimens of the species, seems not excessive when 

 compared with similar variations in other species of eels. 



The type of N. avocetta is erroneously described as 

 having no lateral line. A distinct line is present in the 

 specimen here described, and is provided with very minute 

 pores in three series, as figured by Goode and Bean for 

 Atlantic specimens. 



The following table of measurements will serve for com- 

 parison : 



Total length 710 mm. 



Greatest depth of body 8>^ mm. 



Least depth of "neck " 4 mm. 



Length of head 59 mm. 



Greatest depth of head 8 mm. 



Length of snout 45 inm. 



Diameter of eye 5 mm. 



Least interorbital width 2% mm. 



Distance from vent to gill slit 6 mm. 



Length of pectoral 10 mm. 



Height of anal 10 mm. 



Nemichthys avocetta is very closely related to N. scolo- 

 ■paceus from the Atlantic and may prove indistinguishable 

 from it. I have been unable to verify the slight differences 

 in proportions of parts, said to distinguish the two forms. 

 The eye may average a little larger in Pacific specimens. 

 I do not venture to unite the two in advance of a detailed 

 comparison of satisfactory material from the Atlantic and 

 the Pacific. 



