449 



Family BLENNIIDAE. 



Genus Gillias, Evermann and Marsh. 



Gillias, Evermann and Marsh: Kept. U.S. Fish. Comm., xxv., 

 1899, p. 357 (G. jordani, Everm. and Marsh). 



This genus is usually regarded as synonymous with 

 Tripterygion, Risso, but it apparently differs in having the 

 head more or less scaly, while scales cover the abdomen and 

 breast. 



Gillias squamiceps, n. sp. 



PL xli., fig 1. 



Tripterygion nigripenne, Waite : Rec. Austr. Mus., v., pt. 3, 

 1904, pp. 182, 224 (not T. nigripenne, Cuv. and Val.). 



D. iv. xv. 11-12: A. 22-23; P. 8-9 + 7-8: V. 2: C. 13: 

 L. lat. 21-24: Scales 34-36: L. tr. 2J, 1, 7. 



Head 2*9-3*4 in the length to the hypural joint. Eye 

 longer than the snout, 3*1-3*3 in the head. Snout 1*1-1*2 in 

 the eye. Depth 1*5-1*7 in the head. 



Body elongate, tapering from the head to the caudal 

 peduncle. Head pointed anteriorly, subcylindrical pos- 

 teriorly. Snout conical, the jaws equal. Mouth slightly 

 oblique, the maxilla expanded posteriorly and reaching almost 

 to below the middle of the eye. A small nasal tentacle, and 

 a larger branched one on the upper portion of the eve. 



Teeth in broad bands in both jaws anteriorly, becoming 

 uniserial laterally, the outer row enlarged, curved, cardiform : 

 a curved row of minute teeth on the vomer, the rest of the 

 palate apparently toothless. 



Scales extending forward to the hinder orbital borders on 

 the upper-surface of the head and on to the opercles and 

 cheeks below, where they are arranged in about five rows : in 

 the smallest specimen the cheeks are naked. Rows of minute, 

 spine-like cilia are present around the orbital margins, across 

 the nape, and on the preopercular and suprascapular mar- 

 gins; these are most developed in the largest specimen.. 

 Entire body, including the abdomen, breast, and pectoral 

 base, covered with large, strongly ctenoid scales. The lateral 

 line is almost straight and extends to the vertical of the 

 anterior dorsal ray. It is separated by two series of scales 

 from the median row on the side of the tail ; each of these 

 has its margin excavated into a deep notch, the notches ex- 

 tending forward a varying distance in advance of the end 

 of the lateral line. There are 2h scales between the lateral 

 line and the back, and 7 between it and the anal fin. 



Fins. — First dorsal commencing just behind the vertical 

 of the preoperculum ; the first spine is the longest, the others 

 decreasing backwards. Second dorsal originating behind the 

 p 



