THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 401 



Astroscopus guttatus (Abbott). 

 Star Gazer. 



Head 2^ ; depth 3>^ ; D. IV, 15 ; A. 13 ; width of head i^ in 

 its length; depth of head i3^; upper edge of pectoral 1^/7; 

 eighth dorsal ray 2j^ ; eleventh anal ray 3; caudal iVtJ ^^^t 

 depth of caudal peduncle 4 ; innermost ventral ray 1 3/[ ; inter- 

 orbital space about 3 over head measured from tip of upper jaw; 

 maxillary 2% ; eye 3^ in head. Body robust. Head broad, 

 well flattened above. Snout broad, flattened. Eye small, a little 

 longer than broad. Maxillary vertical, its greatest expansion 

 half of interorbital space. Lips with many transverse filament- 

 like plications. Teeth rather large, unequal. Naked space be- 

 tween forks of Y on top of head short and broad, longer than 

 vertical limb of Y, which is very short. Naked area behind eye 

 broad, its greatest width i^ in its greatest length. Anterior 

 internasal space a little greater than posterior. Nostrils with 

 short cutaneous flaps marginally, and posterior pair each with 

 an outwardly curvxd canal with entire margins furnished simi- 

 larly. Two short spines directed forward from front of orbit. 

 Bones of head more or less rugosely striate, opercles becoming 

 striate marginally. Preopercle with 2 blunt spines directed down- 

 wards. Gill-rakers reduced to small asperities. Scales disap- 

 pearing on lower surface of body. Lateral line extending su- 

 periorly from shoulder to spinous dorsal, then continued close 

 along bases of both dorsals. First 2 dorsal spines larger, sub- 

 equal. Posterior portion of rayed dorsal highest. Anal begins 

 behind rayed dorsal, and tips of radii free. Caudal rounded. 

 Pectoral with upper rays longer, reaches beyond anal. Ventral 

 a little more than half way to vent. Color above, and lower jaw, 

 bright chocolate. Belly and throat white. Darker parts marked 

 with many circular spots lighter than ground-color. Membrane 

 of first dorsal black. Second dorsal white with 3 irregular bands 

 of dull black obliquely across. Caudal with 3 parallel bands of 

 blackish-brown, middle appearing as continuation of variable 

 longitudinal band on center of side. Anal has variable band of 



26 MU 



