oq5 PAPERS FROM TORTUGAS LABORATORY vol. xxxiv 



Antennarius verrucosus Bean, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 19, 1906, p. 31 — Bermuda; 



Field Columbian Mus., Zool. Ser., vol. 7, 1906, p. 88, fig. 14. 

 Antennarius astroscopus Nichols, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., vol. 31, 1912, p. 109, fig. 1 — 



Barbados. 



I have had a single specimen, 60 mm. long, taken just beside Bird Key reef. 



It had recently eaten a Malacoctenus macropus 50 mm. long. 



To the naked eye the fish was largely muddy gray, with a suggestion of under- 

 lying maroon, more distinct on the ventral side, but the fresh fish lacked the rose 

 which in irregular patches is spread freely on alcoholic material. Its ocellated 

 spots, which consist of a large one at base of soft dorsal and in part on dorsum, 

 with several incipient small ones toward the fin's free margin; one on base of 

 anal; three on caudal; one at base of 3d dorsal spine; one on side above pectoral; 

 and one on side behind it, help to distinguish it. 



On the lips, the tips of 2d and 3d dorsal spines, the lateral faces of the dorsal 

 fin, the back in general, the caudal peduncle, and the caudal fin are numerous 

 branched dermal processes that look like tiny hydroid stems with their polyps. 



The long, delicate 1st dorsal spine reaches base of 3d and bears at its tip a 

 fleshy "bait." 



As Poey stated in Memorias (vol. 1, 1853, p. 220), the type was sent by him to 

 Cuvier. Cuvier and Valenciennes' statement, "Nous avons re$u cette neuve 

 espece ou variete de la Martinique par M. Garnot," read without reference to the 

 context, has resulted in the type locality's being listed incorrectly by some 

 authors as Martinique instead of Cuba. W. H. L. 



I learned from Dr. Longley's notes that he examined in the Musee d'Histoire 

 Naturelle, Paris, the type (no. 4591), a specimen 88 mm. long. There he exam- 

 ined 2 others, 1 from Martinique and another from Guadeloupe. In the Museum 

 of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, he examined 3 specimens identified as 

 Antennarius corallinus, taken in Cuba, St. Thomas (?), and Whale Cay. In the 

 American Museum of Natural History, New York, he examined 3 specimens, 

 at least in part identified as A. astroscopus, in part from "Florida." Then, in the 

 Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, he examined 3 more (no identi- 

 fication stated) from St.-Martin and "Sta. Cruz, W. I." Finally, he studied his 

 own specimen from Tortugas, Florida. The specimens examined, according to 

 incomplete length measurements given, varied at least from 60 to 155 mm. From 

 the study of this material Dr. Longley concluded that A. verrucosus and A. 

 astroscopus, previously considered distinct, are synonyms of A. multiocellatus. 



Dr. Longley's specimen is now 57 mm. long (standard length 43 mm.). The 

 following proportions and enumerations are based on this fish : Head, measured 

 to gill opening, 1.8; depth 1.95; width of head 3.2; depth at eyes 2.4. Eye in head 

 12; snout 7.5; interorbital 6.3; maxillary 2.4; caudal peduncle 3.4; pectoral 2.6; 

 1st dorsal spine 2.0; 2d dorsal spine 4.0. D. III-12; A. 7; P. 10; C. 9. 



The color markings of the fresh fish remain visible in the preserved specimen. 

 It may be added, however, that in addition to the ocellated spots mentioned, 

 many smaller black spots or dots are present, particularly in the lateral-line 



