Z76 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



in front. Anal inserted a trifle before origin of rayed dorsal, 

 higher posteriorly, and margin deeply notched. Caudal rounded^ 

 median rays longest. Pectoral long, reaching base of second 

 anal ray. Ventral inserted midway between tip of mandible and 

 origin of anal, reaching "^/j to anal. Color brownish, variegated 

 and marbled darker. Length 14 inches. Beesley's Point. 



'A large fish of singular appearance, known from our coast 

 only at the above locality from 2 examples taken many years ago 

 by Samuel Ashmead. 



Hemitriptems americanus Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 816. 



Family AGONIDiE. 



The Alligator Fishes. 



Body angular, commonly 8-angled. Caudal peduncle 6-angled,. 

 covered with 8 to 12 longitudinal rows of imbricated radially 

 striated plates. Anterior edge of each plate next in front of it, 

 and plates spinous or not. Teeth small, even, in villi form bands 

 on jaws, and in most species on vomer and palatines, sometimes 

 wholly obsolete. Gills 3 J/2, no ,slit behind last. Gill-membranes 

 united, free or joined to isthmus. Gill-rakers small. Pseudo- 

 branchise large, extending down on inner side of opercle. Branch- 

 iostegal rays 6. Myodome with membranaceous roof. Basisphe- 

 noid absent. Post-temporal not bifurcate continuously, articu- 

 lated with epiotic and pterotic. Pyloric coeca few, about 4 to 7. 

 Vertebrae numerous, 35 to 50. Spinous dorsal large, small, or 

 absent. Anal without spines. Caudal rounded, about 3 times as 

 long as wide at base, with 10 to 12 long rays. Base of pectorals 

 usually broad, lower rays sometimes produced. All rays of fins 

 simple. Ventrals thoracic, narrow, their rays I, 2. Vent usually 

 close behind ventrals. 



Fishes of the cold seas, living among rocks and kelp, most of 

 small size and fantastic form, and not valued as food. One spe- 

 cies recorded from our coast. 



