Yja PAPERS FROM TORTUGAS LABORATORY vol. xxxiv 



The first 2 spines of the first dorsal are greatly produced, often longer than 

 body, but the filaments sometimes are wanting. 



Body dorsally spotted with brown; sides with yellow and white stripes, the 

 yellow ones continuing on upper lobe of caudal; belly rosy, this color extending 

 on lower lobe of caudal; first dorsal with yellow spots, the 2 produced spines 

 (filaments) orange; second dorsal with three yellow lines; anal rosy; pectoral 

 yellow on outer surface, with dark spots, six or more regularly spaced along 

 upper margin; inner surface of fin white above, largely dark below. 



The information contained in the foregoing paragraphs was extracted from 

 Dr. Longley's notes. 



The collection contains 12 specimens, ranging in length from 46 to 100 mm. 



The filaments of the spinous dorsal apparently develop with age. At least, the 

 smallest specimen has none, and there is no indication that it was lost. The next 

 larger one, which is 70 mm. long, has 1 filament attached to the 1st spine, reach- 

 ing end of base of second dorsal. Only the 2 largest specimens, 90 and 100 mm. 

 long, each have 2 filaments, attached to the first 2 spines, the longest one of which 

 reaches beyond tip of caudal. 



Scales very spiny, the margin with the spines on it being curved outward; 

 those in anterior part of lateral line modified into small scutes; some of the other 

 scales in lateral line enlarged; processes on snout rather variable, some specimens 

 with a distinctly enlarged spine in each process, others with several spines of 

 more nearly equal size; supplementary spine at base of preopercular spine always 

 present, but very variable in size. 



The following enumerations and proportions are based on 3 specimens, 78 to 

 100 mm. long: Head in standard length (both measured without rostral pro- 

 cesses) 2.0 to 2.2; depth 2.9 to 3.2; ventral 2.5 to 3.1; pectoral 1.85 to 2.1. Eye in 

 head (measured without rostral processes and to end of opercular spine) 4.2 to 

 4.6; snout 2.4 to 2.7; mandible 3.0; interorbital 5.0 to 5.8. D. X or XI-11 or 12; 

 A. 9 or 10; P. 11 or 12 + 3; scales about 55 to 60; gill rakers short, 8 or 9 on 

 lower limb of first arch. 



Gulf of Mexico, in rather deep water. S. F. H. 



Family DACTYLOPTERIDAE. Flying Gurnards 



Dactylopterus Lacepede 



Cephalacanthus Lacepede, Hist. nat. poiss., vol. 3, 1802, p. 323 (C. spinarclla Lacepede). 

 Dactylopterus Lacepede, ibid., p. 325 (D. pirapeda Lacepede = Trig/a volitans Linnaeus). 

 Cephacandia Rafinesque, Anal, nat., 1815, p. 85 (substitute for Cephalacanthus) . 

 Gonocephalus Gronow, Cat. fishes (ed. Gray), 1854, p. 106 (G. macrocephalus Gray = 

 Trigla volitans Linnaeus). 



The last two generic names in the list above have long been counted synonyms. 

 But each of the first two has indifferently been counted good or rated a synonym 

 without adequate statement of reasons. 



Cephalacanthus has page priority in the original. But Owen (Anatomy of ver- 

 tebrates, vol. 1, 1866, p. 612) first stated definitely, on the authority of Albert 

 Gunther, that Cephalacanthus is merely the young of Dactylopterus, and later 



