PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 295 



those above lateral line not especially enlarged, arranged in very oblique 

 series; those below more nearly horizontal ; soft tins well scaled. Series 

 of scales from scapular scale reaching fourth to sixth dorsal spine. 



Dorsal spines stout, the fourth highest, 2^ in head ; longest soft rays 

 3f in head. Upper caudal lobe rather longest. If in head ; longest anal 

 rays 2^ in head, reaching when depressed beyond the tips of the last 

 rays. Second anal spine stronger and longer than third, 2| in head, 

 reaching when depressed nearly to the tip of the last ray. Ventrals, If 

 in head ; pectorals short, 1|. 



Color in life, dull pearly grayish; belly, plain grayish, each scale on 

 body above with a conspicuous spot of dull olive brown, these forming 

 interruj)ted, oblique, and wavy streaks; head not spotted; mouth not 

 much red, usually faintly orange near the angle in young specimens, a 

 black spot on opercle under angle of preopercle ; iris gilt ; fins all dull, 

 blackish-gray, the ventrals more or less tipped with blackish. 



Younger specimens have dark lateral stripes arranged precisely as in 

 H. fremebundum and R. rimator and also a dark blotch at base of cau- 

 dal. In the very young the spots on the scales are indistinct. Cuban 

 specimens are mostly more dusky in color, the vertical fins mostly 

 black, and the spots on the scales larger and almost black. In some 

 these spots coalesce into stripes, but more usually they remain dis- 

 tinct. Other Cuban specimens [alhidum) are very pale, the dark spots 

 light brown, and specimens of every intermediate shade are in the col- 

 lection. There are never any shades of blue or yellow on body or fins. 



This species is common at Key West, where it is known as Sailor's 

 Choice. It is not very often brought into the market, on account of its 

 rather small size. The young are abundant along the shores, in 

 numbers inferior only to H. pluniieri and H. rimator. At Havana it is 

 still more common, being brought into the market in large numbers 

 every day. The darker specimens are called by the fishermen Bonco 

 prieto, the paler ones Bonco bianco. 



While in Havana, Professor Jordan took especial pains to select 

 specimens representing every variety of form and coloration in this 

 species. In the very large collection secured we find specimens an- 

 swering fairly to Poey's serratum, alhidum, Hcemulon acutum as well as 

 other specimens variously intermediate. A type of Hwmulon acutum 

 sent by Poey to the United States National Museum is identical with 

 the types of our description. H. chromis of Giinther is also certainly 

 this species, but the original chromis of Broussonet and Cuvier seems 

 to have been H. gihhosum. 



If our view of the identity of these various nominal species with black 

 spots be correct, the name acutum is the one to be retained. It is not 

 impossible that the synonymy given above may be found to include more 

 than one distinct species. If the identity of Hcemulon canna, Agassiz, 

 with this species is regarded as certain, the name canna should super- 

 cede acutum. Its use by Agassiz is prior to its application to a differ- 



