1941 CATALOGUE OF FISHES OF TORTUGAS 05 



with which it was compared. The blue streak across the cheek of niveatus is 

 missing, but every one of the nineteen spots which may be made out in the 

 smaller specimens of niveatus is represented in this larger specimen of mystacinus. 

 The mustache and the dusky bar on the caudal peduncle are the same in the 

 two. Pyloric caeca 6, compound, with many terminal branches, doubtless making 

 the 150 to 200 with which mystacinus is credited. 



I am not sure that this specimen is distinct from E. niveatus. If distinct, it is 

 possible that a second specimen was incorrectly assigned to that species. This 

 second one was 165 mm. long, and was taken between 47 and 54 fathoms. It 

 lacked the yellow border on the dorsal fin, as well as the blue streak on the side 

 of the head. Its blue spots on dorsal fin and body were more numerous than in 

 other specimens of niveatus. 



Atlantic coast of tropical America to Florida. W. H. L. 



Epinephelus striatus (Bloch). Hamlet or Nassau grouper 



(Plate 3, figure 2; plate 4, figure 1) 



Common in the coral-gorgonian belt, but infrequent outside of it about the 

 keys. 



Appears always ready to feed by day. Some may be induced readily to take 

 food from a diver's hand; others are shier. One that I fed frequently usually 

 appeared promptly upon my approach from under the coral heads and got under 

 foot or picked at my pockets, in which I had carried crawfish tails for it. It could 

 scarcely be driven far enough away to photograph, and might easily have been 

 captured with bare hands if it had not been so strong, hard, and slippery. 



The commonest color phase, which is a resting one, is too clearly shown in the 

 photographs (pi. 3, fig. 2; pi. 4, fig. 1) to require description. The chief of the 

 dark elements in its pattern are the tuning-fork stripe on the frontal and occipital 

 regions, the ocular stripes, the dark reticulations on cheek and opercle, the trans- 

 verse bands on the body, and the dark rectangle on the upper surface of the 

 caudal peduncle. Its shade varies, being much lighter over white bottom than 

 dark. In the lighter shades the fish displays bands which do not then extend 

 ventrally as far as in the darker shades. The black spot on the upper surface of 

 the caudal peduncle is the only permanent marking. A dark triangle, continuing 

 the base of the tuning-fork stripe on the upper lip, fits perfectly with the greater 

 piece, although the two parts are separated by the considerable extent of inturned 

 skin between the premaxillary and nasal bones. The ocular stripes are continued 

 forward across the mouth to the lower jaw as if there were no interruption of 

 continuity. The markings on the cheek and opercle are continued under the 

 head, which is unusual in most bottom fishes. But the Nassau grouper often 

 "stands" at so high an angle that the markings underneath are visible. When 

 the fish swims, its banding becomes fainter, and may be very faint if the bottom 

 below it is light, flat, and bare. 



Change in coloration has been noticed that is unrelated to change in color or 

 shade of the environment, or to change from rest to active motion. One indi- 

 vidual was observed repeatedly displaying, when a red grouper came near it, a 



