352 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



The genera of this group ^rere long ago recognized by me, and the 

 osteology abundantly confirms their validity. Professor Jordan has, 

 however, been unable to recognize generic characters for the exterior, 

 and I have therefore been impelled to a task too long delayed, and 

 herewith submit the cranial characteristics of the various genera. I 

 am indebted to my venerable friend. Professor Poey, for the skeletons 

 which have enabled me to formulate the characters. They represent 

 almost all of the species found in the Cuban waters. Professor Poey 

 long ago appreciated the importance of osteology for the full knowl- 

 edge of the relationships of fishes, and published, in 1871,* a synopsis 

 of the Lutjaninaj, in which he adopted the genera here characterized. 



As Professor Jordan will soon publish a revision of the American 

 species of Lutiauinse and give the external characteristics of the genera, 

 this article is limited to the exhibition of the skeletal features, and only 

 such of them as appear to be most salient, and therefore best fitted for 

 diagnosis. 



Professor Jordan has recognized the characteristics of the pterygoid 

 armature and number of gill-rakers in the case of the several genera. 



It may be that a distinct family should be constituted for the Lut- 

 janinoe and Hoplopagriua? (to be called Lutjanidie), with the charac- 

 ters above indicated as their most essential features. I have not been 

 able, however, to examine the osteology of the remarkable and eccen- 

 tric Hoplopagrus GuentheriA 



LUTJANIN^. 



Synonyms as subfamily names. 



<Me8opriontiforme8,t Bleeker, Enum. Sp. Piscium in Arcliipel. Indico, p. xix, 1859. 

 (Composed chiefly of Sparidis ; not defined.) 



=Liitjaninfe, Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Phila., 186, 2p. 446, 1862 (defined). 



^Lutjaniui, Poey, Eepertorio Fisico -Natural de Cuba, t. 2, p. 205, 1868 (not defined). 



>Platyiniini, Poey, Repertorio Fisico-Natnral de Cuba, t. 2, p. 205, 1868 (not defined.) 



=Lutjanini, Poey, Annals Lyceum Nat. Hist. N. Y., v. 10, p. 58, 1871 (described). 



<^Spariforme8t (Lutjanini^) Bleeker, Archives N^erlandaises Sc. Exactes et Nat., 

 t. 11, p. 270 (275); Systema Percarum, i, p. 24 (29) 1876; Atlas Ich. des Indes 

 N^erlandaises, t. 8? 1876? 



=Lutjanina}, Jordan & G-ilbert, Syn. Fishes N. Am., p. 546, 1882. 



=Lutjanin8B, Gill, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., v. 7, p. — , 1884 (cranial characteristics de- 

 fined). 

 Percinte gen., Bonaparte et al. 

 Serraninae gen., GUnther et al. 



Synonym as family name. 



<Mesopriontoidei, Bleeker, Enum. Sp. Piscium in Archipel. Incfico, p. 19, 1859. 



In addition to the osteological characters enumerated (which are 

 probably also shared by the Hoplopagrinse), the Lutjaninae are, as a 



*Genres des Poissons de la faune de Cuba appartenant a la famille Percidte. Par Fe- 

 lipe Poey. <^ Annals Lyceum Nat. Hist. New York, vol. 10, pp. 27-79 (Lutjanina}<[pp. 

 58-71), 1871. 



tHoplopagrus Guentheri, Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., 1861, p. 78; 1862, p. 2.53. 



I ' ' Subfamilia " of Bleeker. § ' ' Phalanx " of Bleeker. 



