PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 15 



1. Calamus pennatula Giiicb^not. — Little-head I'orfjy ; Fez de Pluma. 



Calamus jjennatula Guicli^not, K6v. Pagels, 116. (Martinique.) Poey, Monogr. 



Sparini 1872, 178 (in part). 

 Calamus megacephalus Jordan & Gilbert, Syn. Fish. N. A., 1883, 926. (Florida 



Keys.) (Not of Swainson.) 



Head, 3i to 3^ in length (4^ in total); depth, 2 to 2^ (2§ to 3); D. 

 XII, 12 ; A. Ill, 10. Scales 9-58-16. 



Body much elevated, more so than in any other known species except 

 in calamus. In adults the anterior profile rises in a straight line very 

 steeply to the nape, thence in a gentle curve to front of dorsal. In the 

 young the profile rises less rapidly and is convex. Greatest depth of 

 preorbital slightly more than half length of head in adults. 



Mouth not large, the maxillary scarcely reaching vertical from front 

 of orbit, two-fifths length of head. Anterior teeth of outer series slightly 

 longer and more robust than those of the cardiform band. In the upper 

 jaw on each side one of these outer teeth becomes much enlarged, canine- 

 like, directed obliquely forwards and downwards, and strongly curved, 

 the upper surface concave ; there are usually seven teeth of the outer 

 series between these two canines. No evident accessory series of molars. 

 Eye moderate, 4 in head in adults (11 inches long), 3 in head in young 

 of inches. 



Dorsal spines slender and high, the longest half head. Pectorals 

 reaching vertical from origin of anal fin, one-third length of body. 

 Yentrals 5 in length. Upper lobe of caudal as long as head, slightly 

 longer than lower lobe. 



Color in life. — Silvery, with bright reflections above, much more 

 brightly colored than in other species. Each scale above middle of sides 

 with a spot of rich violet-blue on its basal portion, these forming dis- 

 tinct longitudinal streaks along the rows of scales. On lower part of 

 body these blue spots are replaced by j)ale orange spots, faint in the 

 young, very distinct in adults. In life the sides have dark bands, which 

 disappear after death. 



A diffuse, ill-defined horizontal violet-blue area above opercle extend- 

 ing back onto the shoulder. A well-defined horizontal deep-blue stripe 

 below eye ; another, somewhat less distinct, above orbit. Preorbital 

 region, snout, cheeks, and opercles brassy or bronze, crossed with hori- 

 zontal, wavy, non-reticulating lines of violet-blue, these colors more 

 marked on preorbital and snout ; the streak crossing snout above nostrils 

 wider and rather more conspicuous than the others. 



Dorsal marked with orange and very bright violet, its margin always 

 orange, more or less bright in life. Caudal banded with dull orange. 

 Anal distinctly blue shaded. Ventrals not dark, with more or less light 

 yellow. Axil slightly dusky. 



Iris dark, with gilt ring. 



A single young specimen from Key West, o inches long, has all the 

 teeth of the anterior row in the upper jaw uniformly small and vertical. 



