1889.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 159 



A REVIEW OF THE AMERICAN SPECIES OF PRIACANTHID.E. 

 BY WILLARD L. MORRISON. 



In the present paper I have attempted to give the synonymy of 

 the genera and species of fishes of the family of Priacanthidse (Big- 

 Eyes or Catalufas) found in American waters, with analytical keys 

 by which the species can be recognized. 



The specimens examined by me are all in the Museum of the 

 Indiana University, duplicate series having been sent to the U. S. 

 National Museum. 



I recognize the Priacanthidse as a family distinct from the 

 Serranidse, from which it is apparently an off-shoot. 



I am indebted to Dr. D. S. Jordan for the use of his library and 

 other invaluable aid in the preparation of this paper. 



The family may be thus defined : 



Perciform fishes with the body oblong or ovate, covered with 

 small, firm, rough scales ; all parts of the body and head, and even 

 snout and maxillarfes being densely scaly. Head deep ; mouth large, 

 very oblique, lower jaw prominent. Bands of villiform teeth on 

 jaws, vomer and palatine, none on tongue. Premaxillaries pro- 

 tractile ; maxillaries broad, without supplemental bone, not slipping 

 under the very narrow preorbital. Eye very large, its diameter 

 nearly half the head. Posterior nostrils slit-like, vertical, near the 

 eye. Preopercle more or less serrated, with one or more spines at the 

 angle. Operculum very short, ending in two or three points 

 behind. Gill membranes separate, free from the isthmus ; pseudo- 

 branchiae large ; gills four, a slit behind the fourth ; gill-rakers long, 

 slender, toothed. Branchiostegals 6. Lateral line continuous, high, 

 forming an angle below spinous dorsal. Dorsal fin continuous, with 

 about 10 spines, depressible in a groove. Anal spines 3 ; soft part 

 of anal long, similar to soft dorsal, and terminating opposite to the 

 termination of dorsal. Vertebrae (cruentatus) 3+13. Ventral* large, 

 thoracic, 1, 5, attached to body by membrane ; pectorals small, round- 

 ed, with 16 to 19, rays; caudal fin truncate or lunate, of about 18 

 rays. Skull almost flat between the eyes, with a long, thin and high 

 occipital crest. 



These fishes inhabit deep waters in the tropics. They are of 

 moderate size and most of them are rose-colored in life. The species, 



