CATALOGUE OF VERTEBRATES. 733 



SBRRANUS, Cuv. 

 (Centropristis. Perca.) 



S. nigrescens, Bl. & Schn. (atrarius.) Northern Black Sea Bass. 

 Blackfish. 



Canine teeth of outer row small ; caudal fin trilobed ; color 

 dusky, more or less mottled, with traces of pale longitudinal 

 streaks along the rows of scales; young greenish, often with 

 dark lateral band, sometimes cross bars ; dorsal with whitish 

 spots ; body robust ; head large, little compressed ; top of head 

 naked ; about eleven rows of scales on cheeks ; mouth oblique, 

 low ; dorsal spines strong ; pectorals as long as ventrals (longer 

 in southern variety, atrarius). Dorsal rays, X, 10 ; anal rays, 

 III, 7; lateral-line scales, 50; length, 12 inches. 



" This species is the best known of our coast fish to the market- 

 people. During the spring and summer it is brought in great 

 numbers from our coast generally. The species never reaches a 

 very great size, the largest specimens met with by the author 

 measuring fifteen inches." 



CRBOLU3, J. & G. 



(Faranthias. Brachyrhinus, &c.) 

 O. furcifer, Cuv. & Val. (Serranus.) 



Is a revision of the following : 

 " Epinephelus oxypteras. Sharp-finned Corvina. 

 "A specimen of this fish is described in De Kay's Report, as 

 having been met with in New York. The writer has not seen a 

 living specimen." [C. C. A.] Its occurrence on our coast is 

 still doubtful. 



TRISOTROPIS, Gill. 

 T. stomias, G. <fe B. Black Grouper. 



Dark gray, freckled with paler, but no distinct spots ; fins 

 tipped with black ; mouth large ; body slender ; scales smooth, 

 with many accessory scales. Lateral-line scales, 140. Rare 

 north of Virginia. The following note seems to refer to a 

 variety of the next species : 



"Epinephelus moris. Groper. 



" There is but one specimen preserved from the coast of New 

 Jersey known to the writer. A southern species." 



