250 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY t)P 



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of rays (D. IX 19. A. III. 9,) and of scales (L. I. 85 95,) and color, espe- 

 cially the four round violet dots, are the same in the fish of the Pacific Ocean 

 as in that of the Caribbean Sea; I am therefore compelled to regard the two 

 as identical. The Brachyrhinus colonus [Serranus colonus Val.) of the Gallapagos 

 Islands appears to differ in color, the number of the rays and the size of the 

 scales. 



Genus Epinephelus (Blocb) Gill. 



Epinephelus sellicauda Gill. 



The height equals about three tenths (-29) of the total length. The head forms 

 considerably more than a third (-36) of the same length ; it is wholly covered 

 with small, closely appressed scales, the only naked external parts being the 

 supramaxillary bones and lips. The eye in diameter equals a sixth of the 

 head's length, and is distant more than a fourth ('Si) from the snout. The 

 preoperculum is oblique and scarcely denticulated along its upper half, vertical 

 and more coarsely denticulated towards the angle and thence decurved forwards. 

 There are three opercular spines, the upper of which is concealed. The caudal 

 enters nearly five times and a half (-18) in the length and nearly equals the 

 pectoral fins. The ventrals scarcely equal a seventh (-14) of the length. 



D. XI. 17. A. III. 8. 



The color is purplish brown, sparseky covered with white spots which extend 

 more or less on the dorsal, anal, pectoral, and ventral fins. The caudal pe- 

 duncle has a black saddle-like spot behind the dorsal fin. The posterior mar- 

 gins of the pectoral and external margins of the ventrals have white lines. The 

 spinous dorsal has the incised membrane hyaline bordered below by a linear 

 black band. The caudal is immaculate. 



The species is perhaps most nearly allied to the E. awoara (Serranus awoara 

 Fauna Japonica) of Japan, and the Epinephelus niveatus (Serranus niveatus C.V.) 

 of the West Indies. 



Genus Dermatolepis Gill. 

 This genus is very closely related to Lioperca, of which the Serranus inermis 

 Val. of the Caribbean Sea, is the type. It differs from Lioperca by the absence 

 of the canine teeth on each side of the front of (he upper Jaw, by the little increase 

 in size of the teeth of the posterior rows near the symphisis, the short and 

 bluntly rounded pectoral fins, the regular increase of the three small anal 

 spines, and the obsolescence of the upper spiniform process which is concealed 

 in the skin. The teeth are in broad bands in front, separated by a narrow 

 smooth symphiseal area, and become recumbent backwards and inwards in the 

 internal rows. The usual trilobation (not spines) of the operculum is indis- 

 tinct. 



Dermatolepis punctatus Gill. 



Proc. Acad. Nat. Sciences of Phila., vol. xiii. 1861, p. 54. 

 One specimen stuffed is in the museum. 



Subfamily RHYPTICIN.E Gill. 



Genus P>.hypticus Cuv. 



Rhypticus xanti Gill. 



The greatest height equals a fourth or more of the total length. The head 

 to the end of the opercular membrane equals three-tenths (-30^) and projects 

 considerably beyond the spine (-01^;) its height behind the eyes enters nearly 

 five times and a half (-18) in the total length, and the greatest height at the nape 

 more than five times (-21.) The eye is moderately small, its diameter (-4) being 

 more than half as long as the snout. The pectoral fin enters more than 6J times 

 (=-15) in the total length. 



D. III. 24. A. 16. 



[May. 



