;; l B A s ■ cies of ( ktban Ffah. 



and a soft portion. The spines increase in length from 



the first to the fifth ; the last being the shortest. The anal has 



•int formed by the fourth and fifth branched ray. The 



caudal is nt-shaped. The pectoral is three quarters the 



the body, and the ventral two-thirds of the pectoral. 



The lateral line is parallel to the back. I neglected counting 

 9, but there are about fifty-five. There are eight rows of 

 scales above and fifteen below the lateral line. The exposed 

 margin is finely ciliated ; the base cut square and with thirty- 

 six parallel (lutings, not reaching the centre. Scales of the 

 open ther large; none on the limb of the preopercle, and 



the rest of the head naked, excepting two double rows, of which 

 one covers the temples near the great surscapular scale, and the 

 other less distinct behind the eye. 



The general color is pink, with silvery reflections on the mar- 

 gin of the scales. An indistinct blue line above the eye, which 

 B red iris. A carmine red spot above the axilla. The fins 

 have a pale reddish tinge. The caudal yellowish towards the 

 margin. When young, it probably has a lateral spot, as in 

 others of the same group. 



The Bkull is narrow, owing to the near approach of the pa- 

 rietal Ti The occipital ridgt is high and truncated behind. 

 The articular apophyses of the prefrontal are long and oblique. 

 Orbit rounded; its longitudinal diameter three and a half times 

 in the basal length of the skull. 



The flesh is hard to cook; it swells, twists, and remains lend. 

 though its flavor is nol bad ; and this may Berve to distinguish ii 

 from tlie two species which I compare with it. 



At the first glance it might betaken forthe .'/. Campechianue, 



which i O a pink ••'■lor and large eve; but which has two 



igh plates on the tongue, the preoperoular angle well den- 

 ticulated, a sh< noui, the orbit more oval, the teeth on the 



jaws thinner, particularly the anterior ones of the pivmaxillary ; 

 the band of inside teeth narrower, and almost obsolete on the 

 lower maxillary: t: ii of vomerine teeth prolonged in B 



