200 U. S. P. R R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
drawn from the first dorsal spine, and their extremity does not extend quite as far hack as that 
of the ventrals. The rays are subdivided twice, with traces of a third division. 
Br. VI: VI; D IX, 26 + 1 ; A III, 28 + 1; C, 3, 1, 6, 6, 1, 3 ; V I, 5 ; P 1, 26. 
The scales are moderately developed ; there are sixty-two of them in the lateral line, which 
is nearly concurrent with the dorsal outline, hence quite arched above the pectorals. Eight 
longitudinal rows are observed between the lateral line and the dorsal grove, and about twenty- 
three from the lateral line and the inferior line of the belly. The scales (figs 3—5) are deeper 
than long, posteriorly convex, superiorly and interiorly rounded, whilst the anterior margin is 
somewhat undulated upon a nearly straight line. The dorsal groove extends from opposite the 
sixth spinous ray to the eleventh articulated one. The sheath is formed anteriorly of three and 
posteriorly of two rows of scales ; the scales in the upper row are much the largest and longest 
of the three ; the inferior row is the shortest and is composed of the smallest scales Opposite 
the anterior half of the anal fin there is an area of very small, almost minute, scales ; the row 
running over the base of the rays, again, is a little larger. As usual the scales are larger on 
the flanks than over the dorsal and sub-thoracic regions. 
The ground color is olivaceous above, silver and gold on the sides and abdomen. Traces of 
dark transverse bars or bands may he observed on the middle region of the body. Scattered 
blackish spots and dots exist on the dorsal region. The fins appear to be unicolor, some 
yellowish, others greyish. 
A specimen about three inches in total length exhibits the transverse bands more distinctly, 
nine or ten in number, from the base of the caudal to the thoracic belt. The soft portions of 
both the dorsal and the anal are proportionally higher than in the adult, and the spinous 
portion of the dorsal is still lower than the soft, corroborating an observation made by us on the 
embryo upon the tardy growth of the spiny rays of the fins. The articulated rays of the dorsal 
and anal fins are all undivided yet, whilst those of the caudal, ventrals, and pectorals, are but 
once bifurcated. The posterior margin of the caudal having been broken, off, we are at a loss to 
describe its shape. 
The ovaries of the specimen above described were found of a very diminutive size. The 
sheath in which they were contained was not larger than an ordinary quill. A microscopic 
examination showed distinctly the presence of eggs (Plate XXVI, fig. 9), in a very immature 
condition, still within the vascular membranes. The protracted immersion of the specimens in 
alcohol had not changed their general aspect; their contents were somewhat diffused, hut a 
practiced eye could still discern the germinal vesicle, around which the vitelline substance was 
more condensed than in the remaining space of the sphere. 
The species inhabits the Bay of San Francisco, California, and was also observed along the 
coast further north. 
Plate XXXVIII, fig. 1 represents the female sex of finnichthys heermanni, size of life. 
Fig. 2 is a section across the line of greatest depth of the body. 
Fig. 3, a scale from the dorsal region. 
Fig. 4, a scale from the lateral line. 
Fig. 5, a scale from the side of the abdomen. 
