FOWLER: NEW ENGLAXD FISHES. 117 
Botly elontjate, well cdinpressefl, sides flattened, moderately broad 
above. Caudal peduncle compressed, small, much longer than 
deep. Head moderate, compressed, flattened sides converging 
below. Snout convex, lower profile little more convex than upper, 
obtuse, length little less than width. Eye large, rounded, center 
slightly before middle of head, close to though not impinging on upper 
profile. Mouth small, rather Inroad, lower jaw slightly protruding. 
Maxillary slightly curved, well inclined, mostly exposed, apparently 
reaches nostril, though not to eye. Jaws apparently toothless. 
Nostril moderate, close before eye above. Interorbital broad, flat. 
Rakers 9 + 24, lanceolate, '2\ in eye. Scales rather caducous, many 
having fallen, narrowly exposed, becoming smaller on hind part of 
body. Head and caudal base scaly (most scales now fallen). Lateral 
X- 
^^^^^^^ 
Fig. 1. — Parexocoetus mesogaster (Bloch). 
line low, tubes apparently ending behind end of depressed anal. 
Dorsal inserted about last third in space between hind eye edge and 
caudal base, first branched rays highest. Anal inserted very slightly 
behind dorsal origin, much lower. Caudal with lower lobe much 
the longer, also longer than head. Pectoral extends back nearly to 
two-thirds of depressed dorsal, first ray simple, all others divided. 
Ventral inserted about midway between hind pupil edge and caudal 
base, extends back f to latter. 
Color in alcohol largely dull brownish abo\e or on Ijack and upper 
surface of head. Sides and lower surface of both head and trunk 
silvery white. Iris whitish. Fins all pale, except upper portion of 
■dorsal, which is duskv to blackish. 
