538 Girard on Fishes of California. 



in the length of the side of the head. The branchial fis- 

 sures are continuous under the throat, and prolonged to- 

 wards the hyoid apparatus. The branch] ostegals are five on 

 either side and quite slender. The inter- and subopercle are 

 quite developed. 



The origin of the anterior dorsal fin is equidistant be- 

 tween the extremity of the snout and the fork of the caudal 

 fin. It is composed of seven spiny rays, the first of which 

 is the highest. The second dorsal is situated opposite 

 the anal, and since its base is a good deal shorter than that 

 of the latter, the posterior extremities and the anterior mar- 

 gins of these two fins do not coincide with the same vertical 

 line. The rays are thirteen in number, diminishing less 

 rapidly in height than in the anterior dorsal, thus giving 

 the upper margin of the fin a more gradual slope. The 

 caudal fin is deeply forked and contained about six times 

 in the total length, the same as the head. The anal is as 

 deep anteriorly as the second dorsal is high, diminishing, 

 however, very rapidly backwards. The origin of the ven- 

 trals is nearer the terminus of the anal than the extremity 

 of the snout ; they are composed of five well-developed and 

 dichotomised rays, and a rudimentary undivided one upon 

 their external edge. The pectorals are well developed, pos- 

 teriorly falciform, and tapering to a point. 



Br. VI : VI; D VII, 13 ; A i, 27 ; C 5, i, 8, 7, i, 7 ; Vi, 5; P 15. 



The scales are large, constituting but thirteen longitudinal 

 series upon the line of greatest depth of the body. Longer 

 than deep on the dorsal region, and deeper than long on 

 the abdominal region, they are rounded off upon their pos- 

 terior margin, and truncated upon their anterior margin. 

 Radiating grooves may be seen upon the posterior section 

 of the scale only. The cheeks, opercular apparatus, and 

 the upper surface of the head, are covered with large and 

 imbricated scales, similar to the scales of the body, except 

 that their outline is subjected to infinite variations. 



