826 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



the upper lateral keel of body is a ridge broken up into 4 

 irregular spines, larger than the body spines; 4 triangular 

 spines on edge of preopercle, the upper one the largest; 

 a very irregular ridge running from upper preopercular 

 spine, under eye, to snout; a ridge on upper part of 

 opercle. 



Body with 4 ridges on each side, formed by the scales, 

 each of which ends in a spine; traces of a ridge between 

 lateral ridges; the spines on abdominal ridges as sharp as 

 those on rest of body; a Y-shaped ridge of spines in 

 front of ventrals, the forks toward the ventrals and the 

 base ending at gill-membrane; a raised area between ven- 

 tral fins, running from their base to opposite their tips, 

 which is entirely covered with small prickles; the anus is 

 in the posterior end of this; the dorsal and abdominal 

 ridges coalesce with their fellows of the opposite side, but 

 they come together so gradually that it is impossible to tell 

 exactly where they unite, as the spines continue distinct 

 to the caudal fin. Small spines covering the outer part 

 of the base of the pectoral; a ring of spines around caudal 

 base; a few minute spines on eye above pupil; occiput 

 abruptly lower than body, but scarcely forming a pit, as 

 the body is about level behind it. 



Spinous dorsal highest in front, the second spine reach- 

 ing to base of last spine when fin is depressed; the dorsal 

 rays subequal in length, the last not shortened and not 

 adnate to body; last ray reaching to the tenth plate before 

 caudal fin; pectoral fin posteriorly rounded in outline, the 

 lower rays not .produced; it reaches to the second plate 

 before anal fin; ventrals small, reaching just past vent; 

 anal longer and lower than soft dorsal; dorsal and anal 

 ending at the same corresponding place; caudal fin 

 rounded behind. 



Color, in spirits, gray, with 7 or 8 dark cross-bars; head 



