534 ' NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



EpiuepJielus niveatus Poey, Syn. Pise. Cubens. 286, 1868; Jordan & Gilbert^ 

 Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 541, 1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. 

 Nat. Mus. 1156, 1896; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 99, 1898; 

 op. clt. 1901, 32, 1901. 



Body oblong, compressed, the back elevated; the anterior 

 profile somewhat convex; the snout short, rather sharp, its 

 length contained three and three fourths times in length of 

 head. Head three sevenths and depth of body about one third 

 of total length without caudal. Mouth large, the maxillary 

 extending to below posterior margin of eye, its length one half 

 length of head. Canines rather strong, specially in upper jaw. 

 Lower jaw considerably projecting. Eye rather large. Inter- 

 orbital space flatfish, its width contained seven and one half 

 times in length of head and twice in length of snout. Pre- 

 opercle with a salient angle armed with stronger teeth, a slight 

 notch above the angle. Gill rakers 15 below the angle of first 

 arch, the longest as long as the gill fringes. Dorsal spines 

 rather high, the fourth contained about two and three fifths, 

 times in length of head; soft dorsal of moderate hight; caudal 

 truncate, one half as long as the head; anal moderate, its second 

 spine about as long as the third, three eighths as long as the 

 head, its longest soft ray three sevenths as long as the head. 

 Pectorals not reaching to the tips of the long ventrals, about 

 one half as long as the head. Ventrals about as long as pec- 

 torals, nearly reaching vent. D. XI (rarely X), 14 or 15; A. Ill, 9;. 

 scales 18-115 to 120-50; pores of lateral line 67 to 75. 



Color of young in alcohol: brown, with round whitish spots 

 on the body, rather smaller than pupil, regularl}^ arranged in 

 vertical and horizontal series, about five in horizontal and four 

 in vertical row; these rows sometimes show irregularities; no 

 distinct spots on breast; a very large black blotch on upper part 

 of caudal peduncle extending to below lateral line; a dark mus- 

 tache above edge of maxillary; fins nearly plain, probably yel- 

 lowish in life, the dorsal with a median row of dusky spots on 

 the membranes. Some specimens lack the saddlelike blotch on 

 the tail, but the pearly spots on the side are persistent in all. 



