and Labrador, with Descriptions of New Species. 259 
and stout, part from the isthmus and reach close to the ossa 
innominata; contiguous at their anterior extremity, they 
diverge a little posteriorly, so that a naked space is left be- 
tween them under the thoracic region; their upper margin is 
concave and adjoining the smooth space in front of the pec- 
torals. The ossa innominata form a strong abdominal cui- 
rass; they terminate in a point at a short distance from the 
vent, sending an ascending branch which articulates with the 
plates of the sides. "The vent is placed at an equal distance 
from the extremity of the caudal fin and the isthmus. 
“The spines of the back are elongated and very acute, 
` provided on both sides with slender spars or denticulations ; 
the first one is inserted above the base of the pectorals; the 
second, a quarter of an inch posterior to this; the third, much 
smaller than the preceding one, is still more distant from the 
second, and is contiguous to the anterior margin of the dorsal 
fin. "These three spines are furnished with a triangular mem- 
brane, running from the upper third of the spine to the dorsal 
line of the fish and forming a somewhat concave diagonal. 
“ The soft dorsal contains twelve rays; the second, third, 
fourth, fifth, and sixth of which are dichotomized. The anal 
has but eight rays, of which the second, third, fourth, and 
fifth are dichotomized ; at the anterior margin of that fin we 
find a small spine with a short and thick base, terminated by 
an acute point and furnished with lateral spars. The poste- 
rior margin of the same fin does not extend beyond the pos- 
terior margin of the dorsal. The caudal is forked ; it is com- 
posed of twelve well developed rays, all of which are bifur- 
cated except the two external ones. Each lobe has, besides, 
five or six rudimentary rays hidden in the thickness of the 
skin. The ventral fins are composed of one strong spine and 
a soft and slender ray; this last is kept within the membrane 
inside of the spine for more than half its length. The spine 
itself is slender, a third of an inch in length; its base is wi- 
dened and furnished along the upper edge with a flattened and 
sharp tooth; on both sides a minute serrature is to be seen, 
