SERRANUS ERYTHROGASTER. 29 



Remarks. This genus embraces a great number of species ; more than one 

 hundred have been already described, and arranged in sections, according to the 

 scales on the head ; — those with the jaws naked, or uncovered with scales (Serra- 

 nus scriha) ; — those in which both the upper and the lower jaws are strongly 

 scaled (Sermmis anthias) ; — and those in which the lower jaw alone has minute 

 scales (Serranus gigas). 



SERRANUS ERYTHROGASTER. — jD^-iiCay. 



Plate V. jig. 2. 



Specific Characters. Head and body above reddish or olive-brown, with 

 large, pale ash-coloured blotches ; lower jaw and belly salmon-colour ; dorsal, 

 ventral, and caudal fins bordered Avith blue, more or less distinct. D. 11-17. 

 P. 16. V. 1-5. A. ;3-10. C. 18. 



Synonymes. Serranus erytlirogaster, DeKay, Zool. N. Y., part iv. p. 21, pi. 19, fig. 52. 

 Serranus eryihrogaster, Storer, Synops., p. 30. 

 Grouper, Vulgo. 



Description. The form of this fish, without the caudal fin, is nearly sub-oval, 

 more arched and thinner at the back than at the belly. The head is large ; the 

 facial outline is a gentle curve to the snout, which is full and rounded. The eye 

 is large and very near the facial outline, Avith its inferior margin rather below the 

 superior fourth of the head ; it is twice its diameter from the snout, and three and 

 a half diameters from the posterior extremity of the spine of the opercle ; the 

 pupil is deep blue, and contracted in front ; the iris is reddish-grey, with an inner 

 golden margin, very narrow. The nostrils are nearly of the same size ; they are 

 round, and the anterior has a slightly prominent fleshy border, and is nearer the 

 eye than the snout ; they are placed below the middle plane of the eye. 



The mouth is very large, with lips thick and fleshy ; the upper jaw is protractile. 

 The lower jaw is longer than the upper, though its teeth are received within it 



