396 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Dorsal spines rather short aud stiff, the fourth 3 in head. Soft dorsal 

 high. Caudal subtruncate, 2 in head ; anal rather high, rounded, the 

 longest rays 2 in head. Second spine longer and stronger than third, 

 2^ in head. Pectorals broad, reaching a little beyond tips of veutrals, 

 1| in head. 



Color, in spirits, dark brown, the body and head profusely covered 

 with round spots of a darker brown, their diameter about half that of the 

 pupil. Spots on iiosterior part of body confluent in horizontal streaks; 

 breast and front of head with few spots ; a very faint mustache 

 above maxillary. Dorsal and caudal dusky olive, nearly i)lain ; anal 

 with two cross-bands of dusky; pectoral yellowish, with 5 dusky cross- 

 bands, its edge pale; veutrals dusky. 



This little fish is rather common on the Pacific coast of Mexico aud 

 tropical America, where it represents A. afer of the Atlantic. In form, 

 size, and general appearance the two resemble each other closely. The 

 coloration is, however, quite different, and there are some small differ- 

 ences in form, the Pacific fish having a slenderer head, with more promi- 

 nent lower jaw. 



28. Alphestes afer. Guaseia. 



Einiiephelus afer, Blocli, Ichtliyologia (about 1795), tab. 327 (Guinea?). 



Alphesies afer, Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Iclitliyo.l, 1801, 236 (copied) ; Peters, 

 Berliner Monatsber., 1865, 105 (identification of Blocli's type with chlorop- 

 terum and monacanthus) • Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1832, 

 375. 



Plectropoma chloropterum, Cuv. & Val. ,ii, 398, 1828 (San Domingo; Martin- 

 ique) ; Poey, Memorias, i, 73, tab. 9, f. 3, 1851 (Cuba) ; Vaillant & Bocourt, 

 Miss. Sci. au Mexique, 1875, 107, pi. v, f. 3; Poey, Repertorio, i, 265, 1867 

 (Hayti ; Martinique ; Brazil). 



Prospinus chloropterus, Poey, Syn. Pise. Cubens., 1868, 289; Poey, Enum. Pise. 

 Cubens.,1875,18. 



Pleciropoma monacanthus, Miiller «fc Troschel, Schomburgk's Hist. Barbadoes, 

 665, 1848 (Barbadoes) ; Glinther, i, 1859, 164 (copied). 



Alphestes monacanthus, Cope, Trans. Am. Philos. Soc, 1871, 467 (St. Martin's). 



Eabitat. — West Indies. 



Head, 2f (3^) ; depth, 2f (3J). D. XI, 17'; A. Ill, 9. Scales, 14-80-x. 

 Length, 7^ inches. 



Body oblong, ovate, rather compressed, the greatest width 2^ times 

 in the depth. Head small, rather pointed, the profile nearly straight 

 from the tip of the snout to the nape, there forming a considerable 

 angle, being steeper and more gibbous to the front of the dorsal fin. 

 Snout short, shorter than eye ; mouth small, the maxillary extending 

 a little beyond the eye, its length 2f in head. Teeth comparatively 

 small, in broad bands, the upper jaw with about four small canines, the 

 canines of the lower jaw scarcely differentiated. Lower jaw rather 

 weak, little projecting. Eye large, 4i in head. Interorbital space, 

 moderate, convex, its width 6 in head. Preopercle strongly and un- 

 equally convex, its upper limb oblique, without notch above the angle. 



