THE FISHES OF BERING SEA. 459 



subject to great individual variation. We find no important differences between this 

 specimen aud those from the Alaskan Peninsula reported on by Gilbert, Report Com- 

 missioner of Fish and Fisheries, 1896, 426. The occipital depression is less and the 

 cross ridge behind it much lower in the adult from Eobben Island, the occiput com- 

 paratively flat and without cross ridge in the young. We do ndt venture to base any 

 distinctions on these differences, which may be due in part to age and in part to indi- 

 vidual variation. 



90. Ceratocottus lucasi ' new species. (Plate LVII.) 



Two specimens 135 and 132 mm. long, one taken from the stomach of a cod, the 

 other from a halibut, both of which were captured near St. Paul Island. The skin is 

 digested off from both specimens, so that the details of color can not be determined, 

 but they are otherwise in good condition. 



Differing from G. diceraus in the deeper, narrower interorbital groove and the 

 smaller size and different armature of the preopercular spines. 



Head 2| in length, measured to end of opercular flap; depth 3^. D., VII-13; 

 A., 12; P., 17 or 18. Measured into the head, the eye is contained 4f times, the max- 

 illary 2^, the preopercular spine 2J, the pectoral fin 1^. 



The maxillary reaches nearly to the vertical ttom posterior margin of eye. Villi- 

 form teeth on jaws and vomer, the outer series in jaws enlarged; no teeth on palatines. 

 Interorbital space very deeply channeled, its least width three-fifths the diameter of 

 eye. The upper edge of orbital rim is sharp and beset with a single series of small 

 teeth, the occiput is abruptly depressed behind the eyes to below the floor of inter- 

 orbital space, as in G. diceraus. It is nearly flat both transversely and longitudinally, 

 the occiput ridges being very low, and the transverse ridge, so conspicuous at back of 

 occiput in adult G. diceraus, is here not developed. The nuchal ridges are high, ele- 

 vated, and compressed into a minutely serrated edge, a very small cusp-like elevation 

 at their base anteriorly. The nasal and preorbital spines are as in G. diceraus. The 

 upper preopercular spines are slender and somewhat decurved toward tips. They 

 are minutely roughened on the outer surface, and bear on their upper edge three 

 retrorsely hooked spines, resembling the spines on a rose bush. Below this are three 

 short, strong spines, the first immediately below the upper spine and diverging from 

 it, the second directed nearly vertically downward, the third downward and forward. 

 Two strong diverging spines at anterior angle of subopercle. Opercular ridge ele- 

 vated. All exposed bones of head roughened with radiating series of lines which are 

 beset with minute prickles. Lateral line with 36 bony plates decreasing in size pos- 

 teriorly. Bach plate bears small slender spines, those on the middle of plate longer 

 than the others and directed backward. 



From fragments of skin left on snout and side of head in one specimen, it is evi- 

 dent that this species is colored much as in C. diceraus, the ground color light olive, 

 thickly covered with small dusky spots, around which the ground color forms narrow 

 reticulating lines. When taken the bones of the head were a bright vitriol green. 



A fine specimen from Avatcha Bay, Kamchatka (U.S.N.M. No. 48859, L. Stejneger 

 coll. 1897), presents the following color markings : 



Blackish-brown on back and sides of head and body, the posterior part of body 

 with three dark bars, one on caudal peduncle, one at beginning and one at end of soft 



' Since tbis description was written, other specimens of Geratocottus liave come to hand, which 

 make it seem possible that C. luoasi la based on the young of C. diceraus. 



