PROCEEDINGS OP" UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 303 



The Diahasis ohUqnatus* of Bennett is much more like this species 

 than any other of the genus yet known. We think that it belongs 

 here, although the blue stripes are represented as more oblique and 

 more numerous than we have ever seen them. 



12. Haemulon plumieri. Common Grunt ; lioncoronco. 



Guaiii Coara BrasiUenaibus, Marcgrave, Hist. Bras., 1648, 163, (Brazil). 

 Pei-ca marina capite striato (the Grunt), Catesby, Hist. Carolina, «fec., tab. 6, 



1743. (Bahamas, &c.) 

 Labrua plumieri, LACl5Pi:DE, Hist. Nat, Poiss., iii,480, 1802, pi. 2, f. 2 (ou a copy 



of a drawing by Plumier, identified with this species by Cuvier). 

 l>iaba8\Hphimiai, Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1882, 603 (Charles- 

 ton); Jordan & Gilbert, Syn, Fish. N. A., 1883, 971; Bean, Cat. Fishes 



Exh., London, 1883, 58 (Key West). 

 Emnulon phmieri, Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1884, 126 (Key West). 

 Itcemulon formosu7n,CvviER, Eegne Animal; Cuvier & Valenciennes, v., 



1830, 230 (Martinique); GOnther, i, 305, 1859 (Pernambuco, Jamaica); De 



Kay, New York Fauna, 1842, 86 (? New York); Cope, Trans. Am. Phil. 



Soc, 1871, 470 (St. Croix; New Providence) (not Perca formosa L.). 

 Ecemylum formosum, YvTis AM, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoo!., 1863, 12 (name only). 

 Diabam formosus, Jordan & Gilbert, Proc.U. S.Nat. Mus., 1882, 276 (Pensa- 



cola); Jordan & Gilbert, Synopsis N. A., 553. 

 Eamulon arcuatum, Cuv. & Val., ix, 481, 1833 (Charleston); Holbrook, 



Ichth. S. Car., 1860, 124, pi. xvii (Charleston); Goode, Proc. U. S. Nat. 



Mus., 1879, 113 (St. Augustine ; no descr.) ; Bean and Dresel, Proc. U. S. 



Nat. Mus., 1884, 158 (Jamaica.) 

 Hosmulon arara, Poey, Memorias, ii, 1860, 177 (Cuba) ; Poly, Synopsis, 1868, 



318 ; Poey, Enumeratio, 45, 1875. 

 Hcemylum arara, Putnam. Bull. Mus. C. Z., 1863, 12 (name only). 

 hcemulon auharcuain7n, Foey, Memorias, ii, 1860, 419 (Cuba); Poey, Synopsis, 



1868, 318 ; Poey, Enumeratio, 1875, 45. 



Habitat. — West Indies ; South Carolina and West Florida to Brazil. 



Head, 2f (3^) ; depth, 2f (3^). D. XII, 1.6 j A. Ill, 8. Scales, 5-50-17. 

 Length, 8 inches. 



Body moderately elongate, the back elevated and somewhat com- 

 pressed. Head long the snout sharp and projecting, its length, 2i in 

 head. Anterior profile more or less S-shaped, nearly straight from tip 



" The following is Bennett's original description, for a copy of which we are indebted 

 to Dr. Edw. J Nolan, of Philadelphia : 



" DiABASis OBLIQUATUS. — Diabasis flavescens, capite vittis cceruleisduodecim, cor- 

 pore lineis coeruleis obliquis numerosis. D. ^| ; P. 16 ; V. ^ ; A. -j^ ; C. 16. 



" On a yellowish, somewhat fuscous, ground (perhaps altered by the spirit in which 

 the specimen has been immersed for about three months) the markings are pale blue, 

 in numerous vittas ; those on the head and opercula, which are somewhat broader and 

 more deeply coloured than those of the body, are nearly longitudinal, about twelve in 

 number ; those of the body are obUque, directed upwards and backwards. The latter 

 are formed by lines passing across the middle of each scale, and are consequently 

 numerous, not less than sixteen or seventeen being crossed hy a line drawn from the 

 junction of the spinous and soft portions of the dorsal fin to the belly in frolit of the 

 anus. On the tail, behind the dorsal and anal fins, the markings become longitudi- 

 nal, in about nine rows. The fins, especially their scaly, soft portions, are more fus- 

 cous than the body ; into these the markings do not extend. The lateral line, de- 



