NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 163 



hibits a pattern of coloration analogous to that stage of the Chxtodon paru 

 called Pomacanihus quinquecinctus. The dorsal filament is rudimentary. 



Family PERCOIDJE (Cut.) 



Genus CENTROPOMUS Lac. 



Centropomus armatus Gill. 



The greatest height is contained 3 times in the length to the fork of the 

 caudal fin. The head enters 2y 2 3 times in the same, and twice in the length to 

 the vertical behind dorsal and anal fins. The distance from the subopercular 

 flap to the preoperculum equals that of the latter from the hinder nostril. The 

 diameter of the eye nearly equals a sixth of the head's length. The dorsal 

 spines are very robust, and the second rather exceeds half the height of the 

 body. The second anal spine is exceedingly developed, reaches to the vertical 

 from the base of the caudal fin, and equals the interval between the snout and 

 hinder preopercular spines. The first dorsal, pectoral and ventral fins when 

 depressed terminate at nearly the same vertical, and slightly in advance of 

 the aDUS. 



. D. VIII. I. 10. A. III. 6. C. VI. 1. 8. 7. 1. IV. P. 1. 14. V. I. 5. 

 7 



Scales 51 

 14 



The color is yellowish-brown above, tinged with silvery beneath. The 

 dorsal fins are more or less blackish ; the soft rays yellowish. The other fins 

 are also yellowish ; the anal blackish between the second and third spines, 

 and with the second reddish. The lateral linei3 brownish. 



A very distinct species. Compared with the species of Cuba and the "West 

 Indies, most nearly the C. ensiferus of Poey. The single specimen described is 

 about eleven inches long. 



Genus EPINEPHELUS (Bloch) Gill. 



Epinephelus analogus Gill. 



The height is contained 3| times in the total length, of which the head forms 

 a third. The preoperculum is delicately pectinated behind, and towards the 

 angle armed with three stronger teeth. The diameter of the eye equals a sixth 

 of the head's length, and equals the interorbital space as well as the snout be- 

 hind the intermaxillars. The third, fourth and fifth spines are equal, and con- 

 tained twice in the head in front of the upper preopercular angle; the tenth is 

 contained 2 h times. The caudal fin enters 5J times in the length ; the height 

 of the dorsal 2| in the head ; the anal is deeper; its third spine is longest, 

 and enters 4J times in the head's length ; the pectoral is half as long as the 

 head ; the ventral shorter, but coterminal with it. There are about 96 rows 

 of scales inclining more or less forwards and downwards ; above the lateral 

 line in front are about fourteen longitudinal rows. 



D. X. 17. A. III. 8. C. 5. 8. 7. 4. P. 1. 18. V. I. 5. 



The color is purplish-gray, with numerous dark spots about as large as the 

 pupil; those of the pectoral and caudal fins are smaller and more crowded; 

 of the dorsal, anal and ventral, more like those of the body. The pectorals 

 have a narrow white margin. 



One specimen, nearly fourteen inches long, is in the collection. # 



Subfamily RHYPTICINJE Gill. 



Of this subfamily, three genera are now known and are represented by nine 

 species. 



1. Rhypticus saponaceus C. and V. iii. 63. 



2. " arenatus C. and V. iii. 65, pi. xlv. 



1863.] 



