PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 387 



ond spine about as long as third, 3^ in head ; longest soft ray 2^. Pec- 

 torals not reaching to the tips of the long ventrals, l^^o iu head. 



Color of young specimen in alcohol brown, with round whitish spots 

 on the body rather smaller than the pupil, rather regularly arranged in 

 vertical and horizontal series; about 5 in a horizontal row and 4 in a 

 vertical one. These rows show some irregularities, and some smaller 

 spots are mingled with the larger ones. No distinct spots on breast. A 

 very large black blotch on upper part of caudal lieduncle, much larger 

 than in E. sellicauda, and extending to below lateral line ; a dark mous- 

 tache above edge of maxillary ; fins nearly plain, i)robably yellowish in 

 life, the dorsal with a median row of round dusky spots on the mem- 

 branes. 



We have never seen this sjiecies in life, and have for study at present 

 only a young example sent by Professor Poey to the National Museum. 

 There seems to be considerable variation in its coloration,' dependent 

 on age and on other circumstances. 



The Serranus ^nargaritifer seems to be the same species. 



We know nothing of UpinepJielus JlcwoUmhatus * Poey, except from 

 Professor Poey's descriptions. From these we infer that he has cor- 

 rectly identified this as the adult of this species, of which his niveatus 

 and conspersus are the young. In the JJavolinihatus Poey counts but seven 

 pyloric coeca, while a larger number has been assigned to E. niveatus. 

 The caudal saddle seems to disappear with age. It is also apparently 

 wanting in the very young. 



20. Epinephelus labriformis. 



Serranus labriformis, Jenyus, " Zool. of Beagle, Fishes, p. 8, pi. 3, 1842 (Galapa- 

 gos Archipelago) " ; Gunther, Cat. Fishes Brit. Mus., i, 152, 1859 (copied). 



Habitat. — Galapagos Islands. 



This species does not appear to have been taken since the voyage of 

 the Beagle. There seems to be little to justify the epithet of "labri- 

 form," several times applied to it by Mr. Jenyns. 



* The following is a translation of the more important parts of the original descrip- 

 tion of Epinephelus fiavolinibatus : 



I have never seen this fish at Havana. It is found at Matanzas in one of the deep- 

 est parts of the hay. 



Specimen described 705 millimeters long. Height, 3f in total length. Head, 3^. 

 D. XI, 14; A. Ill, 9; P. 18. 



Eye 6 in head. Preopercle with strong spiiles at its angle. Maxillary reaching 

 to below posterior part of orbit. Upper jaw with 2 short unequal canines on each 

 side; lower jaw with one. 



Second dorsal spine as long as third. Second spine of anal robust, 5| times in head. 

 Caudal fin rather rounded than truncate. 



Scales small, ciliated. 



Color brownish or ashy pearly ; head with green dashes like moustaches. Dorsal and 

 paired fins pale violet, the former with its edge of a bright canary yellow, fading after 

 the fifth soft ray. Pectoral also bordered with yellow on its entire margin, especially 

 above ; anal and caudal darker than the ground color. Pyloric cceca 7, short and firm. 



Later, Professor Poey expresses his opinion that this species is the adult of i^. niveatus. 



