534 Girard on Fishes of California. 



than the second and contiguous to the latter upon its base ; 

 its anterior margin is situated in advance of the base of the 

 pectorals. The caudal fin is slender and proportionally well 

 developed ; it constitutes a little less than the fifth of the 

 entire length. The origin of the anal fin is situated a little 

 in advance of the anterior ray of the second dorsal ; the 

 interradial membrane is deeply emarginated. The extrem- 

 ities of the posterior rays, do not extend so far back as those 

 of the opposite dorsal. The ventrals are slender, inserted 

 posteriorly to the base of the pectorals, their tip reaching 

 and slightly overlapping the vent, which is situated near the 

 anterior margin of the anal fin and provided upon its poste- 

 rior edge with a double cutaneous flap. The pectorals are 

 well developed ; their base is unusually oblique and extends 

 nearly to the inferior surface of the thorax, while their extrem- 

 ities project beyond the origin of both anal and the second 

 dorsal. 



Br. VI : VI. ; D VIII, 17 ; A 13 ; C 3, i, 5, 4, i, 2 ; VT 3 ; P 13. 



The skin is perfectly smooth and the lateral line well 

 marked, running from the upper part of the thoracic arch to 

 the base of the caudal, making a downward inflection or 

 curve upon the middle of the flanks. 



The ground color of the upper region of the head and 

 body is yellowish brown, mottled or variegated with black- 

 ish ; along the dorsal region a series of blotches of a 

 deeper hue may be observed from the occiput to the base 

 of the caudal ; the lower half of the sides is vermicu- 

 lated rather than mottled in the male, and the abdomen of 

 a bright saffron or yellow hue. The inferior surface of the 

 head presents traces of black markings; the throat and 

 abdomen are unicolor as also the ventrals and anal. The 

 dorsals, caudal, and pectorals are transversely barred upon 

 a yellowish ground. 



Specimens were collected in Tomales Bay, Cal. Plate 

 XXIV. fig. 7, represents the species just described, size of 

 life. 



