PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 383 



crolepis. It reaches a smaller size thau the latter. lu the Havana 

 market it is also common, most of the individuals, however, being- 

 brought from the Florida Keys. For this reason it is known in Havana 

 as Cherna Americana or Cherna de Vivero, the common '■^Cherna'''' being 

 there E. striatus. 



16. Epinephelus mystacinus. Cherna de lo Alto. 



Serraiuis mystacinus, Poey, Meinorias Cuba, i, 52, 1851, tab. 10, f. 1 (Caba)j 



Giintlier, i, 1C9, 1859 (South America). 

 Schistoi'^us mystacinus, Poey, Repertorio, ii, 154, 1868; Poey, Synopsis Pise. Cu- 



bens., 1868, 287; Poey, Enumeratio Pise. Cubeus., 1875, 18. 



Habitat. — West Indies. 



Head, 2f (3^) ; depth, 2f (3§). D. XI, 15 ; A. Ill, 9. Scales, 22-105. 

 Length, 10 inches. 



Body oblong, rather deep, somewhat compressed ; its thickness 2f in 

 its depth. Head large, rather obtuse, the anterior profile little convex 

 and not steep. Mouth moderate, the broad maxillary reaching pos- 

 terior border of eye, 2^ in head. Teeth rather strong; those below 

 mostly biserial, those above in a narrow band. Canines small, shorter 

 than the depressible teeth of the inner series, those of the lower jaw 

 scarcely diflerentiated. Lower jaw little projecting. Posterior nostril 

 larger than anterior, nearly round. Eye large, 4i in head. Interor- 

 bital space slightly convex, 6 in head. Preopercle rather sharply 

 serrate, the posterior limb nearly vertical, not emarginate, the angle 

 nearly a right angle, its serrations considerably enlarged, coarse, varia- 

 ble in form, some of the lower ones usually hooked fowards. Lower limb 

 straight, its edge otherwise entire. 



Opercle with three distinct spines, larger than in any other of our 

 species. Gill-rakers short and thick, much as in U. a/er, about 15 be- 

 low the angle. 



Scales mostly ctenoid, those on head small ; none visible on the 

 maxillary and few on lower jaw. Lower jaw with 5 or 6 large mucous 

 pores on each side, more distinct than in our other species. 



Dorsal spines rather strong and high, the first nearly half the second^ 

 which is considerably higher than the tenth; third spine longest, 2§ in 

 head; second, fourth, fifth, and sixth, but little shorter; soft dorsal 

 rather high. Caudal rounded, its longest ray If in head; anal rounded, 

 its longest ray 2^ in head. Second anal spine stronger than third, 

 which is of the same length, 3f in head. Pectorals reaching slightly 

 beyond tips of ventrals, If in head. Pyloric coeca many (Poey). 



Color in life, dull olive-brown, the body grayish brown crossed by 8 

 bands of dark olive-brown, the one on caudal peduncle broader than 

 the others, darkest on back of tail ; these bauds which are more con- 

 spicuous in life than those of other species of this genus become faint in 

 spirits. A dark moustache along edge of maxillary. Three dark bands 

 across cheek, almost disappearing in spirits. Dorsal dull olive, the 

 bands of sides extending on the scaly parts; caudal and anal dull 



