PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 351 



deeply and obliquely cleft or snbvertical moutli, whose upper margin is 

 constituted by the sui)ra-maxillaries as well as inter-maxillaries, bran- 

 chiostegal arch near and parallel with lower jaw, scapular arch with an 

 inferior projection, and with one or more of the neural spines abnor- 

 mally developed and projecting above the back in advance of the dorsal 

 fin. 



The two genera of the family are so distinct that their relations in 

 a general system may be expressed with apparent propriety under 

 special subfamily names. 



STERNOPTYCHINiE. 



Sternoptychids with the abdominal outline nearly continuous in a 

 sigmoid curve, a single produced spike-like neural spine in front of 

 the dorsal fin, and about five branchiostegal rays. 



The skeleton of Sternoptyx diaplianus is represented on plate II, fig. 7. 



ARGYROPELECINiE. ' 



Sternoptychids with the abdominal outline abruptly contracted in 

 advance of the anal fin, several produced neural spines constituting 

 a serriform ridge in advance of the dorsal fin, and about nine branchi- 

 ostegal rays. 



THE OSTEOLOGIGAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LUTJANIN^. 



By THEODORE CIL.I.. 



The subfamily Lutjaninse contains a number of fishes, representing 

 in the American waters seven genera, which manifest considerable diver- 

 sity in structural characteristics, but which nevertheless have many 

 features in common. The group appears, on the whole, to be homo- 

 geneous, although it may be advisable hereafter to dissever its constitu- 

 ents into two subfamilies. All are, however, distinguished from the 

 typical Sparidse by the absence of distinct tubercles from the cranium for 

 articulation with the epipharyngeal bones, the development of enlarged 

 apophyses for articulation with the palatine and preorbital bones, and 

 the atrophy of parapophyses of the anterior vertebrte. Theparapopbyses 

 may be said to be absolutely wanting to the anterior four vertebrae and 

 but faintly developed on the fifth and sixth, or even seventh, while the 

 ribs are inserted in sockets or pits in the bodies of all six, creeping 

 higher and higher upwards as they approach the cranium, and fitting 

 into pits at the bases of the neurapophyses of the second and first 

 (and, it may be, the third) vertebrae. Such are the characters common 

 even to the extremes, and the differences between them are slight and 

 only of degree. Further, all the genera have the form and articulations 

 of the maxillary bones characteristic of the Pristipomids, Serranids 

 and related types, and unlike those of the Sparids. 



