94 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
gillrakers long and slender; opercular flap long, reaching base of pectoral. Scales large, arranged in 
regular, oblique, transverse rows, overlapping in such a manner as to resemble plates, most of the 
scales apparently cycloid, but those of lateral line pectinate. Origin of caudal slightly nearer tip of 
snout than adipose fin and in front of base of ventrals; adipose fin over middle of anal whose distance 
from snout is three-fourths length of body; pectoral long, pointed, its tip not reaching tips of ventrals; 
ventrals long; anal opening between ventrals and near their base. 
Color in alcohol : Pale; back and sides crossed by about 10 rather broad dark-brown bars, usually 
interrupted on the side, the broadest being just back of dorsal; a broad one crossing front of dorsal, and 
a narrow one at its last rays; a large quadrangular dark blotch on side above and anterior to anal fin; 
base of caudal dark; cheek, opercles, and top of head with some dark; snout pale; lower part of side, 
especially between pectoral and ventral, with line black specks; a few above pectoral; breast and 
region between ventrals with numerous shining black specks; anal black; scales of belly with rows of 
similar black specks; bases of anal and ventrals similarly marked; inner ventral rays black; lower 
part of anterior dorsal rays black; base of caudal with numerous dark specks. 
The single specimen (2.5 inches long) which we have agrees fairly well with the type with which 
we have compared it. The lower jaw, however, is less projecting in our specimen and the dorsal rays 
are one fewer. The known specimens of this interesting species have been taken as follows: 
Fish Hawk 
Station. 
U.S. Nat. 
Mus. No. 
Lat. N. 
Long. W. 
Depth. 
Albatross 
Station. 
U.S. Nat. 
Mus. No. 
Lat. N. 
Long. W. 
Depth. 
876) 
877 > 
878] 
1043 
1038 
1108 
6070 
| 26092 
28995 
28976 
31644 
o t n 
Off Bloc 
3S 39 00 
39 58 00 
40 02 00 
Mayague 
0 / // 
; Island. 
73 11 00 
70 06 00 
70 37 30 
/, Harbor. 
Fms. 
126 
130 
146 
101 
220 
2420 
2424 
2425 
2536 
2537 
43829 
43830 
43831 
(13833 
143834 
43835 
o t n 
37 03 20 
36 41 37 
36 20 24 
| 39 56 15 
’ 39 56 45 
O ! // 
74 31 40 
74 42 15 
74 46 30 
70 47 30 
70 50 30 
Fms. 
101 
85 
119 
157 
156 
It will be observed that all the specimens previously taken were obtained in the Gulf Stream 
southeast of Rhode Island, in depths ranging from 85 to 157 fathoms. The specimen obtained by us in 
Mavaguez Harbor was taken from rocky bottom in the beam trawl and at the greatest depth yet 
known for the species. 
Hyphalonedrus chalybeius Goode, Proc. U. S. N. M. 1880 (Feb. 16, 1881), 484, Gulf Stream, off Block Island. 
Chlorophthalmus chalybeius, Jordan & Evermann, 1. c., 542, 1896. 
Family XXI. PtECILIIILF. The Killi-fishes. 
Body oblong or moderately elongate, compressed behind, depressed forward, covered with rather 
large cycloid scales, which are adherent and regularly arranged. Lateral line wanting or represented 
by a few imperfect pores. Head scaly, at least above. Mouth terminal, small, the lower jaw usually 
projecting; margin of the upper jaw formed by the premaxillaries only; premaxi llaries strong, 
extremely protractile. Teeth incisor-like or villiform, sometimes present on vomer, but usually in 
jaws only; lower pharyngeals separate, with cardiform or rarely molar teeth; third upper pharyngeal 
enlarged, fourth wanting or united to third. Gill-membranes somewhat connected, free from isthmus; 
gillrakers very short, thick. Branchiostegals 4 to 6. Pseudobranchise none. Dorsal fin single, 
inserted posteriorly, of soft rays only, rarely with a single spine or a rudimentary spinous dorsal; 
caudal fin not forked; ventral fins abdominal, rarely wanting; pectoral fins inserted low; no adipose 
fin. Stomach siphonal without pyloric appendages. Air-bladder simple, often wanting. Basis cranii 
simple [fide Cope). Sexes usually unlike, the fins being largest in the males, but in some species the 
females are much larger in size. Many of the species are ovoviviparous or viviparous, the sexes very 
unlike, anal fin of male being developed as an intromittent organ, the young well developed at birth. 
A large family of brackish or fresh-water fishes in southern Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, 
some of them occurring in bays and arms of the sea. They are mostly of small size, and the species are 
very difficult of determination. Only two species known from Porto Rico. This is easily understood 
when it is remembered that there is so little brackish water about this island. 
