1884.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 67 



A REVIEW OF THE AMERICAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS SPHYR^NA. 

 BY SETH E, MEEK AND ROBERT G. NEWLAND. 



The object of this paper is to give a review of the American 

 species of Sphyraena, with detailed descriptions of the four 

 species found on the Atlantic Coasts of America. The specimens 

 examined by us belong, in part, to the Museum of Indiana Uni- 

 versity ; the rest to the U. S. National Museum. All were collected 

 by Professor Jordan at Havana, Cuba; Key West, Fla., and 

 Wood's Holl, Mass. 



The two Pacific species have been full}^ described by Dr. 

 Steindachner (Ichthyol. Beitrage, vii, 18T8, 1-4). The remaining 

 species here mentioned, Sphyraena sphyraena, we have not seen. 



We are under obligations to Professor Jordan, for use of his 

 library and for valuable suggestions. 



Analysis of American species of Sphyraena. 



a. Scales large, t5 to 85 in lat. line ; origin of first dorsal behind 



root of A^entrals, over last third or fourth of pectorals ; 



body compressed ; lower jaw with fleshy tip ; maxillaiy 



reaching past front of orbit ; teeth large. picuda. 1. 



aa. Scales moderate, 110 to 130 in lat. line ; body subterete. 



h. Pectorals reaching the front of spinous dorsal ; maxillary 



reaching front of orbit ; origin of spinous dorsal behind 



root of ventrals. 



c. Lower jaw with fleshy tip ; teeth very strong ; scales 



in lat. line 110. ensis. 2. 



cc. Lower jaw without fleshy tip ; teeth strong ; lat. 



line 130. guaguanche. 3. 



hh. Pectorals not reaching front of first dorsal ; maxillary not 



reaching front of orbit. 



d. Eye large ; teeth small ; interorbital area convex; 

 median ridge of frontal grove not well de- 

 veloped, picudilla. 4. 

 dd. Eye small ; teeth larger ; interorbital space 

 flattish ; median ridge of frontal grove prom- 

 inent, borealis. .5. 



