96 CAIilFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



167. Epinephelus analogus Gill. 



Abundant among the islands in Panama Bay, brought to market in consider- 

 able numbers. 



No variation has been reported in the number of dorsal spines, which seems 

 to be constantly ten. In a specimen 20 cm. long, the u^^per parts were dusky- 

 olive, the under parts lighter, the cross-bars very faint. The spots were brownish- 

 red. The dorsal and the upper caudal rays were colored like the back; the fins 

 otherwise were slaty-blue with a whitish margin, all of them spotted like the soft 

 dorsal. In si:)ecimens 8 to 10 cm. long, the dark bars are distinctly six in number, 

 one on the nape, two below the spinous and two below the soft dorsal, and one on 

 the tail. They are well marked above the lateral line, but fade out on lower part 

 of sides. The round dark spots are confined to the bands, where they are arranged 

 in pairs, forming two vertical series in each band; the two middle bands contain 

 five pairs each. 



168. Epinephelus labriformis (Jenyns). 



Abundant in the Panama market. 



In our smallest specimens, 6 and 15 cm. long, there is no trace of the numerous 

 gently undulating pale lines running upward and backward, described by Stein- 

 dachner (1876, b, p. 5) in a specimen 75 mm. long. In none of our specimens was 

 the inside of mouth salmon-yellow, as described by Jordan (1895, b, p. 444); the 

 lips were faintly tinged with yellow. The distal half of the upper pectoral rays was 

 deep red, shading below into the yellow of the lower rays. The black saddle on 

 caudal peduncle seems to be constantly present. The number of articulated dorsal 

 rays is constantly 17, as given by Jenyns and Gill. 



169. Promicrops guttatus {Linnams). 

 Very large specimens are frequently brought to market. 



170. Alphestes multiguttatus (G-iinther). 



Abundant in Panama Bay, the young very numerous in the tide-pools. The 

 young have fewer spots, mostly confined to the head, while the sides of the body are 

 marked by wavy longitudinal dusky streaks, which are much darker where they 

 traverse certain vertical areas, thus producing a number of vertical bars, which soon 

 disappear. The dark streak behind the maxillary is more conspicuous than in 

 adults. In specimens less than 35 mm. long, the preopercular angle is provided 

 with a large furcate spine, with a long posterior and a short anterior limb. The 

 posterior limb rapidly diuiinishes in size, while the anterior limb elongates and 

 becomes appressed to the preopercular margin, forming the antrorse spine character- 

 istic of the genus. 



As has been pointed out, this species is well distinguished from A. afer, by 

 differences in color and in the contour of the head and body. We find no differ- 



