Iz m PAPERS FROM TORTUGAS LABORATORY vol. xxxiv 



by Dr. Hugh H. Darby. This specimen apparently is the smallest on record. As 

 is evident from the measurements given, the caudal fin slightly exceeds in length 

 the rest of the fish, the produced part consisting principally of 3 median rays; 

 first dorsal very high, and expanded distally, reaching mid-length of the pro- 

 duced caudal fin if laid back; ventrals also rather long, reaching a little past end 

 of anal base; body behind base of first dorsal decreasing even more rapidly in 

 depth and more slender than in adult. 



The pattern of dark stripes is about the same as in adults. The first dorsal, 

 however, is largely black, as it is pale only on basal three-fourth or four-fifths, the 

 distal expanded part being wholly black. The ventrals, too, are largely black, and 

 the black lateral band extends to tip of longest ray of caudal. 



West Indies to Florida. S. F. H. 



Eques acuminatus (Bloch and Schneider) 



(Plate 20, figure 2) 



Though this species moves out at dusk, it usually ventures little beyond the 

 shadow of its overhanging shelter by day. A diver finds it not uncommonly 

 under the beach rock at Loggerhead, in the standing dead Acropora east of Bird 

 Key harbor, and among shelves of stone in gorgonian thickets, or in caverned 

 rocks at many points about the keys. 



The faintly countershaded gray body is marked with a pattern of dark longi- 

 tudinal stripes, variable in intensity. The fins of mature fish are largely dusky, 

 but the spinous dorsal of the young is almost evenly divided between vertical 

 bars of black and white. 



This species, according to Townsend (13th Ann. Rept. New York Zool. Soc, 

 1909, reprint, p. 28), has a dark phase, "uniformly dusky brown on body and 

 fins." This seems to account for Eques acuminatus umbrosus Jordan and Eigen- 

 mann (Rept. U. S. Fish Comm., pt. 14, 1886 (1887), p. 440), which is "essentially 

 similar in form to the typical acuminatus , but with the color marks obscure." 

 Townsend also stated that in the dark phase two or three dark blotches occa- 

 sionally appear. 



Atlantic coast of tropical America northward to the south Atlantic states. 



W. H. L. 



Eques pulcher Steindachner 



This fish occurs in perhaps variable numbers from year to year. The young up 

 to 50 mm. in length were rather common at times near the shadow beneath over- 

 hanging rocks along shore or in bare tracts in turtle grass offshore at Loggerhead 

 Key and on Bird Key flats. They were not rarely seen about groups of the long- 

 spined black sea urchin. 



Under all observed conditions the ground color is pearl gray with three longi- 

 tudinal stripes of dark brown or black on side. From the occiput, where it meets 

 its fellow, the dorsalmost runs almost to end of soft dorsal, the next proceeds 

 from anterior margin of eye across pupil, approximating its width, and thence to 

 tip of caudal. The line last mentioned usually divides before the eye, its dorsal 

 branch meeting its fellow across interorbital space, while the ventral converges 



