31 



c. Soft dorsal dusky, with a more or less distinct blotch of 

 darker color near base of last rays ; dark colora- 

 tion on scales regular, with no appearance of mot- 

 tling due to darker color on scattered groups of 

 scales. 

 d. Body oblong, depth 2.2 to 2.5 in length ; profile long 

 and straight ; margin of ear-flap coppery to pur- 

 plish cyanellus. 



dd. Body short and deep, depth 1.8 to 2 in length ; pro- 

 file steep, convex in front of dorsal, and with 

 angle at nape prominent ; margin of ear-flap 



pale blue to pinkish ischyrus. 



cc. Soft dorsal tessellated with darker but without large 

 black blotch at base of last rays ; dark coloration 

 more intense on scattered groups of scales, resulting 

 in a mottled appearance much as in E. gibbosus : 

 in life, some red or coppery on ear-flap behind. 



euryorus. 

 bb Scales large, 35 to 41 in lateral line ; operculum not pro- 

 longed much backward, but more or less broadly 

 rounded behind, not triangular. 

 e. Flexible margin of operculum narrow, its width J to 

 ^ the length of the black opercular spot, which is 

 mostly confined to the bony portion ; body green, 

 barred with darker ; small coffee-colored specks 



on body and fins symmetricus. 



ee. Flexible margin of operculum broad, \ to as wide as 

 the black or dark green spot on osseous portion, and 

 mostly of the same dark color ; body dusky olive, 

 with rows of red or orange spots on sides. 



in in in! us. 



AA. Operculum thin and flexible behind, its thin membranous 

 margin much produced and broadened posteriorly, with 

 a rather wide edging of pinkish to crimson almost sur- 

 rounding the black of the opercular spot, which is mostly 

 confined to the membranous extension, barely tipping 

 the osseous portion of the flap. No supplemental max- 



