, 
98 General Notes. [August, 
continuous dorsal fin and longer gill-rakers; and was described 
from specimens brought from Alaska by Mr. W. J. Fisher; the 
second is a true Chirus, not uncommon in the markets of this 
city, and the third is a very peculiar form} constituting a sub- 
family. 
The species of the genus Chirus are called sea-trout by some 
dealers in our markets, while others confound them with the Scor- 
pzenidz under the common name of reck-fish or rock-cod. The 
species found in our markets are very nearly related to each other, 
so much so that were it not for the unvarying pattern of the col- 
oration, it would be hard to tell them apart. The peculiar form 
just mentioned does not look like a Chiroid, but closely simulates 
the sea-perches, such as the Jew-fish. As, however, it has the 
structure of the cheeks which distinguishes the Chirida, Prof. 
Jordan believes it must be placed along with them. It is certainly 
intermediate between the Chiridz and the Scorpzenide, and must 
be gathered into one of them. The Chiridz, like the viviparous’ 
perch, are peculiar to the North Pacific, but the large fatnily of the 
Cottidz or Sculpins, is much more widely spread. 
Three additional forms of Cottide have lately been described. 
and small fishes. A third occurs in the fresh-water lakes of the 
Island of Kodiak, Alaska, and belongs to the well-known genus 
Uranidea. . : 
A fortuitously obtained trio of fishes, said to be from deep 
water, has enriched our coast with another family of fishes pecul- 
iar to it. Blenno’d in aspect, with soft and flexible bones, a con- 
tinuous dorsal without any definite spines, and a long anal, 
Jordan believes that its affinities are with the Trachinids. Tw 
species are known, one of them scaleless, but with small prickles 
upon the fins, and prickly scutellz along the lateral line; the 
other scaly, and differing considerably in other respects, 50 that 
it is not improbable that several intermediate forms will ultimately | 
be found. | 
To the fishes before mentioned must be added a singular hump- 
backed Catostomus from the Gila, said to be tolerably abundant ;* 
an Osmerus which has hitherto escaped notice, though sufficiently 
common in the San Francisco market; a Lycodoid (Leurynus 
paucidens), a Scomberoid, ( Chriomitra concolor), and a MY. xine 
(Bdellostoma stoutii) from the same locality ; a well characterized 
species of Hemitripterus from Alaska, and a Sparus from Magda- — 
