Brachydeuterus 



fins all orange-yellow; spinous dorsal, pectoral, and ventral dusted 

 with brownish; scaly sheath at base of anal rich yellow. 



GENUS BRACHYDEUTERUS GILL 



This genus in most respects resembles Poinadasis. Body oblong; 

 scales large, those above in series parallel with the lateral line; mouth 

 small, outer teeth somewhat enlarged; inside of jaws not red; anal 

 spines small or moderate, the second little, if any, longer or stronger 

 than third, and shorter than soft rays; soft dorsal and anal largely 

 covered with small scales; D. XII, 14 to 16. None of the 4 species of 

 this genus is of much importance. 



Brachydeuterus nitidus is known only from the Gulf of Califor- 

 nia, Mazatlan, and Panama. It reaches about a foot in length, and is 

 used as food, though it is not abundant. In colour it is silvery, darker 

 above, with dark streaks along the rows of scales, especially distinct 

 below lateral line; a large round dark blotch at beginning of lateral 

 line, about as large as eye. 



B. corvincpformis ranges from the West Indies to Brazil, ap- 

 parently most common about Porto Rico. It reaches a fo.ot in length, 

 and is a good pan-fish. 



B. leuciscus is probably the most important species of the genus. 

 It is found on our Pacific coast from Guaymas to Peru. It is very 

 common about Mazatlan and Panama, and is a valued pan-fish. 



B. axillaris, the burro bianco, reaches a foot in length, and is 

 known only from Guaymas and Mazatlan, where it is used as food. 



GENUS POMADASIS LACEPEDE 



The Burros 



This genus is composed of small shore-fishes, some of its repre- 

 sentatives being found in most tropical seas. Several of the species 

 enter fresh waters, and others are found in brackish waters. Numer- 

 ous species occur on the west coast of Africa and about the Cape 

 Verde Islands, but, so far as known, none enters European waters. The 

 genus is represented in our waters by about 8 species, all of those 

 sufficiently abundant being food-fishes of some little value. 



Pomadasis panamensis is a well-marked species occurring on the 

 Pacific coast of tropical America, and rather common at both Panama and 

 Mazatlan. It reaches a foot or more in length, and is a good pan-fish. 



43* 



