34 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. 
middle of that fin. The origin of the ventrals is situated opposite the anterior spine of the 
dorsal and a little posterior to the base of the pectorals. They are composed of one spine and 
five articulated and subdivided rays. The posterior or outer margin of those fins is nearly 
straight. The pectorals, composed of seventeen soft rays, are rounded posteriorly, and extend 
further back than the ventrals, though neither the ventrals nor the pectorals reach the anus, 
which is nearly three-eighths of an inch in advance of the anterior margin of the anal. 
The fins and branchiostegals may thus he formulated : 
Br. VII: VII; D X, 14 ; A III, 7 ; C 4, 1, 7, 6, 1, 3 ; V I, 5 ; P 17. 
The scales are of medium size, a little longer than deep, and posteriorly serrated or provided 
with minute spines. They are larger on the flanks than on the dorsal and abdominal regions- 
The lateral line is nearly concurrent with the dorsal outline. Minute scales may be observed 
upon the base of the dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins. The upper surface of the head, cheeks, 
and opercular apparatus are likewise scaly; the scales being smaller on the head and cheeks 
than on the opercle, where they are even larger than on the back, properly so called. 
The ground color is reddish brown above, and yellowish beneath ; the upper part of the body 
being provided with large, cloud-like, purplish black blotches. A dark purplish streak extends ob¬ 
liquely downwards and backwards from the inferior rim of the orbit to the throat, across the 
cheeks and branchiostegal apparatus. The fins are purplish, very intensely so on the ventrals, 
the base of second dorsal, and the space between the third and fourth spines of the dorsal. 
The snout exhibits small roundish spots. 
References to the figures .—Plate XII, fig. 1, represents Paralabrax nebulifer, in profile, two-thirds 
its natural size. Fig. 2, is a scale from the dorsal region. Fig. 3, a' scale of the ventral region. 
Fig. 4, is taken from the lateral line. 
List of specimens. 
u 
g 
_ 
3 
a 
<v 
Oh 
Locality. 
Whence obtained. 
Nature of specimens. 
Collected by— 
bfi 
o 
O 
-*-3 
c3 
o 
6 
• 
282 
2 
Monterey, Cal_ 
Lieut. Trowbridge_ 
Alcoholic._ 
Lieut. Trowbridge_ 
2. PARALABRAX CLATHRATUS, Grd. 
Plate XII, Figs. 5—8. 
Spec. Char. —Snout rather pointed; extremity of maxillary intersecting the middle of the pupil. Eyes rather large. 
Base of pectorals even with the base of ventrals. Blotches of dorsal region assuming a fenestrated disposition. 
Syn. —Labrax clathratus, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 1854, 143. 
Paralabrax clathratus, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VIII, 1856, 132. 
The most striking difference between this species and the preceeding one consists in the gen¬ 
eral profile of the body, which is less elongated, and, especially in that of the head, which is 
more pointed and conical. The eye also is much larger, and contributes for a share in giving 
this fish its specific physiognomy. 
The body is very much compressed, its greatest depth is to be measured across the middle of 
