PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 375 



colored like the dorsal fin. Pectoral olivaceous, its tip yellow, its base 

 spotted. 



'No young specimens of this variety have been examined, but prob- 

 ably the same changes in color will be found that occur in the "Bonaci 

 cardenal." 



B. DESCRIPTION OF SPECIMENS FROM HAVANA (VAR. GUTTATA OR 



CARDINALIS). 



Head, 2f (3f ) 5 depth, 3 (3A). D. XI, 16 ; A. Ill, 11. Scales, 24-121-x. 



Body rather short and deep, rather strongly compressed. Head rather 

 bluntish, the anterior profile rather strongly and regularly arched; 

 mouth rather large, the maxillary reaching past the eye ; 2^ in head (in 

 young). Lower jaw projecting, but rather less prominent than usual in 

 Mycteroperca. Teeth moderate, in rather narrow bands ; both jaws with 

 two moderate canines in front, the upper larger and not directed forwards. 

 Nostrils close together, subequal. Eye small, 5J in head (young). In- 

 terorbital space flattish or slightly concave, its width 6 in head. Pre- 

 opercle without salient angle, its emargination very slight, the teeth 

 below the notch slightly enlarged. 



Scales rather small, chiefly cycloid. Dorsal spines not very slender, 

 the second spine as long as tenth ; the third and fourth highest, 3^ in 

 head. Caudal fin slightly lunate, the outer rays little longer than inner. 

 If in head. Anal rather high, somewhat rounded, the longest rays If 

 in head. Pectoral about reaching tips of ventrals, If in head. 



The color varies much with age and x^robably also with the depth of 

 water. 



a. Color in life of an adult example about 2^ feet in length : Very 

 dark everywhere, sparsely covered with round spots, which are black 

 on the body and red on the belly. Mouth, red within. Pectoral, broadly 

 edged with orange red, otherwise plain. No other bright colors any- 

 where. Soft parts of vertical fins largely black. 



b. Color in life of an example about 2 feet in length: Intense scarlet- 

 red above, grayer below ; above, small black spots ; below, larger red 

 ones. Base of dorsal and caudal deep red. Edge of dorsal, caudal, and 

 anal, black. Pectoral, spotted at base, then blackish, thence broadly 

 yellow. 



c. Color in life of specimens 8 inches in length : Scarlet-brown above, 

 the color varying from vermilion to gray, becomiug grayish in spirits; 

 sides light gray; the ground color forming rivulations around quad- 

 rate blotches of black. Belly andlowerpart of head scarlet. Blotches 

 above and on sides, black ; the upper ocellated with red ; those on sides, 

 below lateral line, presenting the appearance of interrupted horizontal 

 bauds; the blotches below all vermilion, separated by rivulations of 

 ground color. Lower jaw yellowish, with red blotches. Pectorals 

 yellow; the fins otherwise all marbled with red and black; the vertical 

 fins with grayish rivulations, edged with black and tipped with white. 

 In spirits the scarlet and red above become gray, the vermilion below, 



