[47] FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 433 



BATRACHID^E. 



29. Batrachus tau L. subsp. beta Gthr. Oyster-fish; Toad- 



fish; Sarpo. 



Gulf of Mexico. 



This is the common form of toad-fish in shoal water, re- 

 placing the typical B. tau of more northern waters ; 

 it does not nearly equal B. pardus in size. The spe- 

 cies is abundant at Pensacola. 



30811. Pensacola, Florida. Jordan & Stearns. 



30. ISatrachus parclus Goode & Bean. Sarpo; Toad-fish; 



Deep-water Toad-fish. 



West Florida. 



The species, which differs decidedly from the preceding 

 in size, coloration, flabbiness, and habitat, is occa- 

 sionally sent from Pensacola by Mr. Stearns; no 

 small examples are known. 



29886. Pensacola, Florida. Silas Stearns. 



31. Porichthys plectrodon Jor. & Gilb. 



Gulf of Mexico ; South Carolina. 



The species was first described from Galveston, Texas, 



where it is not rare according to Jordan & Gilbert ; 



it has recently been found at Charleston by Professor 



Gilbert, and still more recently at Pensacola by Mr. 



Silas Stearns. 



30894. Galveston, Texas. Prof. D. S. Jordan. 



URANOSCOPID^E. 



3d. Astroscopus y-graecum (C. & V.) Gill. Star-gazer. 



West Indies ; Atlantic coast of Southern United States; 

 Gulf of Mexico. 



This species is said to possess electric powers in life ; it 

 has recently been confounded, by Jordan & Gilbert, 

 with A. anoplus, from which it differs widely in the size 

 of its scales, form of the naked postocular area, and 

 in coloration. These differences may readily be ob- 

 served by any one who has adult specimens before 

 him. 



30851. Pensacola, Florida. Jordan & Stearns. 

 2444— Bull. 27 28 



