DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 241 



Dentex macrophthalmus, Cuvier and Valknciexxes. Hist. Nat. Poiss., vi, 227. — GuicnENOT, Explor. Sci. 

 Algor. Pdiss., 51. — Valenciexxes, in Webb & Berthclot, 37.— HiiNapahte. Catalogo, 4.55. — GCntiier, 

 Cat. I'ish. Brit. Mus., i, 370.— Capei.lo, Cat. Peix. Portugal, 17. — Canestkixi, Fauna Italica, 83. — 

 Moueau, Hist. Nat. Poiss. France, III, 59. — Vaillant, Exped. Sci. Travailleur et Talisman, 358. 



A Dentex, with tbe height of its body a little less than length of head, and included 3i 

 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 abont 58 to 00 iu the lateral line; above and 13 below. 



Kadial fornmht: D. xii, 9-10; A. in, 7-8. 



Color, nniforni red. 



The French explorers obtained in all 1 1 specimens of this species in considerable depths 

 of water; 6 from the Banc d'Arguin, 140-235 meters; 4 ott' the coast of Sondan, 130-410 

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

 with the ]\[editerrauean form is accepted on the authority of Vaillant, although the material 

 for the study of D. macrophthahnns is not very ample. 



Family PRIACANTHID^^. 



Priacniithina, GUnther, Cat. Fi.sh. Brit. Mus., i, 1859, 215, 221. 



Priacuiilliidif, GiLL, Arr. Families Fishes, 1872, ii (No. 112.) — Jordan and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, U. S. Nat. 

 Mus., 544. 



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

 jaw prominent. Teeth villiforni on jaws, vomer, and palatines. Ej e very large. Preoper- 

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

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

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

 Gill-rakers long. Branch iostegals 6. Lateral line continuous. First dorsal composed of 

 abont 10 spines, depressible in groove; anal with 3 spines; soft part long, similar to soft 

 dorsal; ventrals thoracic, i, 5; jiectorals small, rounded; caudal tin triiucate or lunate. 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 



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



B. Scales large. Body rather short, its depth more than half its length Pseudopriacanthcs 



PRIACANTHUS, Cuvier and Valenciennes. 



Priacaiithiis, CuviER and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., iii, 96.— Glnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., i, 215.— 

 Jordan and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, U. S. Nat. Mus., 544. 



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. 



Priaeanthiis macropthtli'almus, Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., iii, 95 (not Jiithiaa macrophthal- 

 mus, Blocii).- GuNTHER, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus.,i, 215.— Jordan and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, U. S Nat. Mus. 

 Priacanthus catalii/a, Poey, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1863, 182 (Parras " CataJiifa"). 

 Priaeanthiis arciiatus, Jordan and Gilbert, oj). c'lt., 971 (not P. arcnuliis, Cvv. and Vai,.). 



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

 short, its length ccmtained 3^ times in that of body. Gape of mouth subvertical, maxillary 

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



Eadial formula: D. x, 14; A. in, l.j. 



Color, uniform red, fins edged with dusky. 



A specimen was obtained by the Bhile at station ccxxxv, off Havana, in 243 fathoms. 

 This si>ecies is a ineud)er of the West Indian fauna. It is possible that it was taken nearer 

 the surfiice than the records would indicate. 

 IDSGS— No. 2 IG 



