292 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1883. 



Interorbital space flattish, scaled, its breadth a little less than 

 that of e3^e. Preopercular spines short, simple. Preorbital 

 spines simple. Lower jaw scarcely projecting. Second anal 

 spine scarcely longer than third. Longest dorsal spine 2| in 

 head, a little less than the longest short rays. Pectoral 41 in 

 body. 



Color dusky brown, apparently dark red in life ; three dark 

 shades across cheeks. 



28. Scorpsena histrio Jenyns. 



(Chinchas Islands; Schmaltz; Brit. Mus.) 



This species is very closely allied to Scorpsena brasiliensii< C. 

 & y. It lacks the black spots which are usually distinct in the 

 latter. In S. brasiliensis the suborbital stay is more broken, and 

 the dorsal spines are perhaps a little lower. 



The following is a diagnosis of Sc. histrio : — 



Head 2j\, depth 3^. D. XII-10. Pectoral 3yV in body. Max- 

 illary 2 in head. Eye 4J in head. Longest dorsal spine 3 in 

 head. Second anal spine 3. Lateral line with 30 scales. 



Head rough above. Nuchal pit quadrate, much broader than 

 long. Scales present on posterior part of cheek and on front and 

 flap of opercle. Scales on body large, not ctenoid, edged with 

 dermal flaps. Eye large. Mouth large, the lower jaw included. 

 Suborbital stay conspicuous, not armed with spines. Second 

 anal spine stronger and rather longer than third. 



Color gray or red, with broad darker shades, four in number, 

 irregular and variable ; fins similarly colored ; pectorals barred ; 

 dermal flaps white. 



29. Prionotus horrens Richardson. 



(Voyage Sulphur, Ichtbyol., 79.) 



Types, Gulf of Fonseca; young. Allied to Prionotna tribu- 

 lus C. Si, v., but the spines on the head still longer and more 

 knife-shaped. First spine on edge of snout broad and serrate ; 

 behind this three similar ones progressivel}' larger. Then two 

 large spines on preopercle, the posterior larger. Two smaller 

 spines on opercle, and one very large on the scapula. Two sharp 

 spines over each eye, one behind ; two on top of head and two 

 on occiput. No groove behind eye. Belt of palatine teeth nar- 

 row. Mouth large ; maxillary reaching to below front of eye, 

 2\ in head. Gill-rakers long and slender, 5 in number. Scales 



