194 1 CATALOGUE OF FISHES OF TORTUGAS l ,g 



Chaetodon ocellatus Bloch 



(Plate 21, figures 1,2) 



Chaetodon ocellatus Bloch, Naturgesch. ausland. Fische, vol. 3, 1787, p. 105, pi. 211, 



fig. 2 — "East Indies." 

 Chaetodon bimaculatus 1 Bloch, ibid., vol. 4, 1790, p. 9, pi. 209, fig. 1 — "East Indies." 

 Sarothrodus macitlocinctus Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1861, p. 99 — Newport, 



Rhode Island (young). 



The commonest species of the genus at Tortugas, frequently occurring in 

 pairs, and sometimes in fours or fives. More apt to swim and feed over compara- 

 tively bare and sandy areas than the other species. 



Young with black vertical band from soft dorsal to anal, not shown in mature 

 ones, the band disappearing before the fish greatly exceeds 40 mm. in length. 

 Adults with faint dusky spot beneath soft dorsal usually remaining; black ocular 

 stripe, narrowly margined with yellow and of width of pupil, persisting and 

 running from anterior base of dorsal fin to opercular cleft; ground color of body 

 very light; soft dorsal, anal, and caudal yellowish with a submarginal blue line 

 on anal and caudal; a black spot at angle of dorsal; ventrals yellow. 



At night the dusky dorsal spot in both unconfined and confined fish stands 

 out distinctly and a dark humeral band makes its appearance. This band varies 

 from moment to moment, if a flashlight is turned on the fish. It appears some- 

 times broad and diffuse, sometimes clearly defined. The young also change at 

 night, losing the posterior black bar and retaining only the spot which dimly or 

 distinctly persists through life, and also showing white spots on the side. 



W. H. L. 



The Tortugas collection contains 5 specimens, ranging in length from 30 to 

 125 mm. In this species the rows of scales run obliquely upward and backward 

 on the side, except below the level of the base of the pectoral, where they become 

 horizontal. 



Panama and Trinidad northward, sometimes to Cape Cod. S. F. H. 



Chaetodon sedentarius Poey 



Chaetodon sedentarius Poey, Memorias, vol. 2, i860, p. 203 — Cuba. 



Chaetodon gracilis Giinther, Cat. fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 2, i860, p. 20 — Caribbean Sea; West 

 Indies. 



No account of this species was found among Dr. Longley's papers. The col- 

 lection contains 4 specimens, 75 to 99 mm. long, and 6 are listed in his notes, the 

 largest of which was 115 mm. long. One of the latter was taken in 2 1 / 4 fathoms 

 and the others in 40 fathoms. 



A preserved specimen, 75 mm. long, is brownish silvery above lateral line, 



1 Dr. Longley followed Jordan, Evermann, and Clark (Check list, 1930, p. 360) in using 

 bimaculatus. Those authors stated (footnote), "Poey seems to have been the first to recognize 

 the identity of ocellatus (which has page priority) with bimaculatus. He chose to use 

 bimaculatus, which should therefore stand." However, ocellatus clearly has absolute priority, 

 as is shown above. Accordingly I have taken the liberty of inserting ocellatus for bimaculatus. 

 — S. F. H. 



