DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEHS DISTRIBUTION. 241 



Dentex macrophthalmus, Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vi, 227. — Guichenot, Explor. Sci. 

 Alger. Poiss., 51. — Valenciennes, in Webb & Bertbelot, 37. — Bonaparte, Catalogo, i.m.-cimiih;. 

 Cat. Fish. Brit. Sins., i. 370. Capkllo, Cat. Peix. Portugal, 17. — Canestrini, Fauna [talica, 83. — 

 Moreau, Hist. Nat. Poiss. France, in, 59. — Vaillant, Exped. Sci, Travailleui el Talisman 



A Dentex, with the height of its body a little less than length of head, and included 3. 1 

 times in the total length. Eye large, its diameter contained three times in the length of 

 the head, and greater than the distance between the eyes. Second anal spine longer and 

 thicker than the third. Scales about 58 to HO in the lateral line; above and 13 below. 



Radial formula: I>. xii, 9-10; A. in, 7-8. 



Color, uniform red. 



The French explorers obtained in all 11 specimens of this species in considerable depths 

 of water; from the Banc d'Arguin, 140-235 meters; 4 oil' the coast of Soudan, 130-410 

 meters, and 1 off the coast of Morocco in 120 meters. The identification of these specimens 

 with the Mediterranean form is accepted on the authority of Vaillant^ although the material 

 for the study of 1>. macrophthalmus is not very ample. 



Family PRI ACANTHID^E. 



Priacanihina, GOnther, Cat. Fish. ISrit. Mus., i, 1859, 215, 221. 



Priacanthidw, Gill, Arr. Families Fishes, 1872, n (No, 112.)— Jordan and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, U. S. Nat. 



Mus., 514. 



Body oblong or ovate, compressed, covered with scales. Mouth large, oblique, lower 

 jaw prominent. Teeth villifonn on jaws, vomer, and palatines. Eye very large. Preoper- 

 cles less serrated, with one or more spines at angle; opercula short, with two or three points 

 behind. Scales Arm and rough, covering all parts of the body and head. Gill membranes 

 separate, free from the isthmus. Pseudobranchkc large. Gills 4, a slit behind the fourth. 

 Gill-rakers long. Branch iostegals 0. Lateral line continuous. First dorsal composed of 

 about 10 spines, depressible in groove; anal with.'! spines; soft part long, similar to soft 

 dorsal; ventrals thoracic, I, 5; pectorals small, rounded; caudal tin truncate or lunate. 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 



A. Scales small. Body rather elongate, its depth less than half its length Priacantius 



B. Scales large. Body rather short, its depth more than half its length Pseudopkiac inthi S 



PRIACANTHUS, Cuvier and Valenciennes. 



Priacanthus, Cdvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., in, 96. — GOnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., i, 2ir>.— 

 JORDAN and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, U. S. Nat. Mus., 514. 



Priacanthids with body somewhat elongate, compressed, the height being less than half 

 the length. Scales small. Other characters included in the family diagnosis. 



PRIACANTHUS CATALUFA, Poey. 



Priacanthus macropththalmus, Cuvier and Valenciennes. Hist. Nat. Poiss., m, 95 (not Anthias macrophthal- 

 mus, Bloch ).— GOnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., i, 215.— Jordan and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, IJ. S Nat. Mus. 

 Priacanthus catalufa, Poey, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1863, 182 (Parraa "Catalufa"). 

 Priacanthus arenatus, Jordan and Gilbert, up. eit., 971 (not P. arenatus, Cov. and Vai..). 



llody oblong, compressed, and little elevated. Its height three-eighths its length. Head 

 short, its length contained :>.', times in that of body. Gape of mouth subvertical, maxillarj 

 passing front of eye. Diameter of orbit about one-half length of head and more than 6 times 

 width of preorbital. Ventrals long, reaching front of anal; pectorals small, not longer than 

 eye. Lateral line with 85 scales, following the curve of the back. 



Radial formula: D. X. 11; A. Ill, 15. 



Color, uniform red, tins edged with dusky. 



A specimen was obtained by the Blake at station CCXXXV, off Havana, in 243 fatl is. 



This species is a member of the West Indian fauna. It is possible that i1 was taken nearei 

 the surface than the records would indicate. 

 19868— No. 2 16 



