3 18 
Body elongate, well compressed. Head small, rather pointed. 
Snout short. Eye advanced, ilandible with distinct symphyseal point, 
protrudes in front; in fry without beak to lower jaw, later formed 
as temporary beak of 2 slender persistent rods, these breaking off at an 
early age to leave finally only spot like scar on chin. Teeth small, 
conic, pointed, simple, irregularly biserial in jaws and none on palate 
or tongue. Gill rakers lanceolate, finely spinescent on front edges. 
Scales moderate. Lateral line low. Dorsal begins before or opposite anal, 
subequal with same. Pectoral short, ndt reaching ventral. Ventral inserted 
nearer caudal base than eye, broad. 
One species. The temporary beak of the young is formed of 
2 slender extended rods from the mandible; apparently breaking through the 
skin, later breaking off and the skin either free as a pair of barbels, 
also likely temporary or healing at i the chin. The beak forms in examples 
of 20 to 75 ram, in length, or only as sharp mandibular point in very young 
or fry. 
Hemiram phus argenteus F , D, BENNETT, Narrative Whaling Voy,, 
vol, 2, p, 269, woodcut, 1840 (type locality; lat, 3° S,, lat. 
5® N,; Pacific Ocean). —CASTELKA.U, Proo, Linn. Soc. New South 
I 
Wales, vol, 3, p, (355) 394, 1878 (Port Jackson), —FOIVLER, 
Mem, Bishop Mus,, vol. 10, p, 78, 1928 (note; compiled). 
