mimdis : fronte declivi, in descensu sinuato : rostro brevi, gi'acillimo, subcylindrico :
pinnci doi'sali paxdo ante medixim longitudinis 'desinexdi : ano infra radium prhnxim
dorsalem silo : pbinis pectoralibus parvis, anali miniitissimâ ; caudali distinctâ.
D. 31 ; A. 3? ; C. 1 0 ; P. 14.
L o n g . u n c . 4 . lin . 7.
F o rm.— Body rather thick and somewhat cylindrical ; the greatest depth and thickness nearly equal,
the former being about one-twcnty-seventh o f the entire length From the head to the vent
hexagonal, the middle lateral ridges term inating abruptly, when opposite the commencement of
the dorsal fin, without inclining either upwards or downwards. Fifteen transverse plates
between the gills and the dorsal fin : only fifty-four in all, the tail not tapering so much as in
many other species. Head much pinched in at the gills, but rather full and protuberant about
the cheeks : its length ten and a half times in the entire length. Crown high and convex ; a
ridge commencing at the occiput passes backward to the nape. Eyes large and full, with
somewhat of a spectacled appearance ; their diameter equal to the whole depth of that part of
the head ; the orbits rising in ridges above them, with the intervening space concave. From
between the eyes the profile descends in a sinuous curve to tbe base of the snout, which
is short, slender, very narrow, and almost cylindrical. The length of the snout is less than half
the entire length of the head ; its breadth, vertically, only one-third the depth of the same
taken behind the eyes.
T he dorsal commences beyond one-third of the entire length, occupies one-ninth of the
same, and terminates a little before the middle : nearly even, and rather high, more than
equalling the depth of the body underneath. V ent about underneath the first ray, but almost
in advance o f the dorsal fin altogether. Anal extremely minute. Pectorals very small.
Caudal rays distinct.
C o l o u r .— T runk greyish-brown, with deep brown interrupted transverse fasciæ. In front of the
dorsal, the fasciæ terminate at the middle lateral ridge, below which the sides are spotted.
Dorsal fin also a little spotted. Cheeks whitish, with two very distinct narrow longitudinal
vittæ extending backwards from the eyes to the posterior part of the opercle.
H abitat, Tahiti.
A well-marked species, and apparently undescribed. The only specimen in
the collection is a female, and, like the last, perhaps not full-sized.
3 . S y n g n a t h u s c r i n i t u s . Jen.
P l a t e X X V I I . f i g . 5 .
S. griseus ; ventre, et macula operculari, nigricaniibus : corpore crassiore, antice
heptágono, postice qxiadrangulo, angulis acutis: vertice pax'um elevato; cristis occipitali
et nuchali distinclis : rostro brevissimo, subcylindrico, capite angustiare, pos-
iice supra carinato, apice subrecurvo : cirris duobus, minutis, fUamexitosis, palpebralibus
: pinnâ dorsali paulo ante medium longitudinis desinente; ano infra initium
ejus sito : pinnis pectoralibus et caudali parvis ; anali nullâ.
L o n g . u n o . 3. lin . 5.
FonM.—Body thickish, the greatest depth and thickness nearly eqnal, the former about one-twenty-
fifth of tho whole length. From the head to the vent hoptangular; tail q uadrangular; all tho
ano-les sharp and distinctly marked. T he middle lateral ridges in the heptangular portion p ^ s
do°wnwards at their extremities to terminate at the vent. Sixteen transverse plates before the
dorsal: only fifty-two in the whole length. Hoad short, about one-eleventh of the entire
length, not more compressed than the body. Crown not much elevated, but with distinct
occipital and nuchal ridges. Orbits rising in ridges above the eyes, the intorocular space being
hollowed o u t: also a ridge commencing between the eyes, and passing forwards along the base
of the snout, but not reaching to its extremity. Snout itself very short, its length only one-
third the entire length of the head, narrower than the head vertically, nearly cylindrical, the
tip slightly recurved, A few very short minute filamentous threads scattered about the head,
more particularly one over each eye.
Dorsal placed much as in the last species, and terminating a little before the m iddle; the
rays delicate and not easily counted, about twenty. V ent beneath the commencement o f the
dorsal. N o anal distinguishable even under a lens. Pectorals very small. Caudal moderately
distinct.
C oL O U R— G r e y : a spot on the gill-cover, and the belly, dusky. T he carinee which form the e d p s
of the under surface of the body are darker still, and shew a fine dark line on each side
extending to the caudal.
Habitat, Bahia Blanca, Northern Patagonia.
Apparently another new species of this genus, taken by Mr. Darwin at
Bahia, and, like the last, well-marked ; especially hy the short filaments above
the eyes, which I am not aware occur in any other known species.