38 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. 
along the rays of the dorsal and anal fins. They may be observed, smaller still, on the base of 
the pectorals. 
The ground color is yellowish brown above, and olivaceous along the lower half of the flanks. 
There are irregularly transverse, blackish brown blotches, sometimes interrupted, when they 
constitute longitudinal bands or vittte. The head is deep brown above. An elongated, trian¬ 
gular, deep brown blotch, may be observed extending from the posterior rim of the orbit, its 
summit, across the upper part of the opercular apparatus, its termination. The sides, and the 
lower surface of the head are yellowish. The abdomen is dull yellow. The fins have the 
general hue of the regions to which they belong. The dorsal and anal are blotched in the 
direction of the transverse bands ; the pectorals and caudal are olivaceous, with traces of trans¬ 
verse narrow blackish bars, the ventrals being unicolor. 
The entire length of the specimen figured and described is about eleven inches. 
References to the figures .—Plate XIII, fig. 1, represents Heterostichus rostratus somewhat 
reduced in size. Fig. 2 is an outline from above. Fig. 3, a scale from the dorsal region. 
Fig. 4, a tube from the lateral line. Fig. 5, a scale from the abdominal region. 
List of specimens. 
Catalogue No. 
No. of specimens. 
Sex and age. 
Locality. 
Whence obtained. 
Nature of spe¬ 
cimens. 
Collected by— 
284 
1 
Ad’t. 
San Diego, California.. 
Lieut. Trowbridge.- 
Alcoholic. .... 
A. Cassidy... 
Family SPHYRAENIDAE^ Bonap. 
We come now to a family composed, so far, of very few generic representatives, in which 
the body, being covered with scales cycloid in structure, assumes an elongated and rather 
slender aspect, though some species grow to a very large size. To give an idea of tjiis, we 
need but mention that the “barracuda” of our southern States, a fish attaining seven or 
eight feet in total length, is one of its members. The snout is quite elongated and tapering 
forwards, the jaws being provided with sharp teeth. There are two dorsal fins, widely sepa¬ 
rated from each other, the first occupying about the middle of the hack, the second about half 
way between the latter and the caudal. The anal is opposite the second dorsal, and the ven¬ 
trals are inserted under the first dorsal. The cheeks and opercular apparatus are covered with 
scales. 
The fishes of this family are all marine, and of rather voracious propensities, they being 
carnivorous, strong, and swift. Their flesh is not held in very great esteem. 
SPHYRAENA, Artedi. 
Gen. Ghar. —Long and acute teeth upon the preinaxillaries, dentaries, vomer and palatines ; lower jaw longer than the 
upper. Premaxillaries forming the external margin of the upper arcade of the mouth. Caudal fin strongly bifurcated. 
Second dorsal fin well developed, and composed of conspicuous and articulated, or soft rays. Scales small. 
Syn. — Sphyraena, Artedi, Gen. Pise. Append., 1738. Editio emend. Walbaum, 1792, 576.—Ccv. & Val., Hist, 
nat. Poiss. Ill, 1829, 325.— Storer, Synops., 1846, 47. 
