T y 2 PAPERS FROM TORTUGAS LABORATORY vol. xxxiv 



Prionotus alatus Goode and Bean 



Taken in 40 to 67 fathoms. 



D. X-12 1 /^; A. 1 1 1 /?. Pectoral 13 + 3 in several specimens, form of this fin 

 distinctive, only the 9th and 10th rays extending beyond dorsal base, 10th little 

 beyond dorsal, and 9th almost to base of caudal; gill rakers 1 + 2 rudiments on 

 upper and 8 + 8 rudiments on lower limb of first arch; scales with pores in 

 lateral line about 53. 



In a specimen 105 mm. long (standard length 85 mm.), the proportions are: 

 Depth 4.5; head to tip of opercular flap 2.65. Eye in head 4.6; 2d dorsal spine 1.8, 

 a little longer than 1st and 3d. Snout emarginate and denticulate anterolaterally, 

 the last spine enlarged and recurved; a spine on preorbital margin above rictus; 

 one median to anterior nostril; another at center of ossification on cheek (some- 

 times obsolete); humeral and lower opercular spines strong; preopercular spine 

 unusually long and strong, with a rather strong accessory spine at base; 1st dorsal 

 spine strongly serrate for half to nearly its entire length. W. H. L. 



Dr. Longley intended to add notes on color, as indicated on the margin of his 

 manuscript, but failed to do so. Body of preserved specimens plain brownish; 

 dorsal fins pale, except for a very definite black spot at margin between 4th and 

 5th spines, and indefinite dusky spots or dusky areas on last few rays of soft 

 dorsal; caudal pale, with black margin; anal and ventrals pale; pectoral largely 

 black, exclusive of filaments, in some specimens; sometimes with bluish spots in 

 the black, barred in other specimens. 



The collection contains 8 specimens, 95 to 140 mm. long. 



From rather deep water off the south Atlantic and Gulf states. S. F. H. 



Prionotus ophryas Jordan and Swain 



Taken only in the 10-fathom channels within the lagoon. The largest specimen 

 obtained was 135 mm. long. 



D. X-12% or 13V2; A. 12; P. 14 + 3 (in 3 specimens examined); pectoral fin 

 reaching almost to tip of lobe of second dorsal; caudal obliquely truncate, lower 

 angle projecting; pores in lateral line 50. 



No spinules on sides of snout, on cheek, or on base of preopercular spine; striae 

 of head ciliate rather than serrate; only a median row of teeth on 1st dorsal 

 spine; other dorsal spines and 1st soft ray smooth; posterior border of anterior 

 nostril with a long and simple cirrus, reaching beyond tip of snout if extended 

 forward; a stout compound supraocular cirrus, equal to half diameter of eye, 

 inserted a little before vertical of supraorbital spines. 



Much clouded and freckled with brown on a light ground; two brown lines 

 extending from snout across mouth and on mandible; first 3 webs of dorsal very 

 dark distally, the rest of fin brown, its outer margin finely netted with white as 

 the second dorsal is throughout; caudal with basal, median, and terminal brown 

 bars, separated by broader paler bands, the margin netted with white; ventrals 

 and anal irregularly brown-banded; free rays of pectoral very distinctly brown- 

 spotted, remainder of fin, on its outer surface, with a fine tracery of white on 

 brown crossed by several dusky and two chestnut bars, some of its bars becoming 



