386 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



the maxillary exteudiiig to sliglitly beyond eye, its length 2^ in head. 

 Oanines moderate ; about equal in the two jaws. Nostrils subequal, 

 roundish. Eye large, 5.J in head. Interorbital space narrow, convex, 

 its width 9 in head. Preopercle weakly and bluntly serrate, its angle 

 evenly rounded, without evident notch or salient angle. Gill-rakers 

 rather short, about 16 on lower limb of arch. 



Scales moderate, ctenoid. Dorsal spines strong, the fourth, fifth, and 

 sixth longest ; 3 in head. Soft dorsal not very high. Caudal slightly 

 convex, 2J in head. Longest anal ray 2§ in head. Second anal spine 

 about as long as third, 4^ in head. Pectorals short, reaching little past 

 tips of ventrals, 1| in head. 



Color, in spirits, dark brown everywhere, on head, body, and fins much 

 clouded with roundish pale blotches; these most distinct on breast and 

 lower parts of head. A conspicuous black blotch on back of caudal 

 X)eduncle. Fins rather pale, darker toward their edges, spotted like the 

 body, the spots smaller and fainter. 



This species is generally common on the Pacific coast of tropical 

 America, where it is a food-fish of some importance. It bears consid- 

 erable resemblance to U. niveatus of the Atlantic. 



19. Epinephelus niveatus. 



Serranus niveatus, Cuv. &. Val., ii, 1828, 380 (Brazil); Castelnau, Anim. nouv. ou rares 



de I'Amer. du Sud, Poiss., pi. i, f. 2 (coast of Brazil) ; Giintber, i, 130 



(copied) ; Poey, Repertorio, i, 202. 

 Epinephelus niveatus, Poey, Synopsis Pise. Cultens., 1868, 286 (Havana); Poey, Euum. 



Pise. Cubens., 1875, 15; Jordan & Gilbert, Syu. Fisb. N. A., 1883, 541. 

 f Serranus margaritifer, Giintber, Cat. Fisb. Brit. Mus., i, 1859, 131 (Soutb America). 

 Serranus conspersus, Poey, Memorias Cuba, ii, 139, 1860 (Havana) ; Poey, Repert., ii, 



157, 1868. 

 Myporthodus flavicauda, Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1861, 98 (young specimen, 



taken at Newport, R. I.); Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1870, 119 



(same specimen). 

 f Epinephelus flavolimhatus, Poey, Repertorio, i, 1867, 185; ii, 1868, 157 (Cuba) ; Poey, 



Synopsis Pise. Cubens., 1868, 286; Poey, Euum. Pise. Cub., 1875, 15. 



Habitat. — West Indies, Brazil, Aspinwall (Gilbert), occasionally stray- 

 ing northward. 



Head, 2^ (3), depth, 2^^ (3^). D. XI, 14 j A. Ill, 9. Length (9804, 

 Havana), 6^ inches. 



Body oblong, compressed, the back elevated -, the anterior profile 

 somewhat convex, the snout short, rather sharp, its length 3f in head. 

 Mouth large, the maxillary extending to below jiosterior margin of eye, 

 its length 2 in head. Canines rather strong, especially in upper jaw. 

 Lower jaw considerablj" projecting. Eye rather large. Preopercle with 

 its angle decidedly salient, armed with stronger teeth, the emargination 

 above the angle slight. Interorbital space flattish, its width 7^ in head. 

 Oill-rakers moderate, about 15 on lower limb of arch. 



Scales moderate. 



Dorsal spines rather high, the fourth about 2f in head. Soft dorsal of 

 moderate height. Caudal truncate, 2 in head. Aual moderate, its sec- 



