400 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



where they are brown. Those on the head remain very distinct, those 

 above never disappearing. 



Professor Poey regards the two forms above noted as distinct s[)ecies, 

 calling the red one apiarius, the brown one guttatus. So far as we can 

 see, the two are absolutely identical in every respect except color. We 

 cannot, therefore, regard them as distinct species, but think them color 

 varieties, dependent on the depth of the water or the character of the 

 bottom. The differences are certainly less than those separating var. 

 ptmctatns from E.fulvus. 



Both forms are extremely common in the markets of Havana, where 

 they are known without distinction as Enjambre. At Key West only 

 the brown form was seen, and this is there paler and more olivaceous 

 than at Havana. It is there not very common, and is known as Coney 

 or Eough Hind. This is one of the smallest species of Epinephelusj 

 rarely exceeding a foot in length. 



The nomenclature of this species is still unsettled. If we do not 

 a'dopt for it the Linnsean name guttatus, the oldest remaining name is 

 clearly that of cruentatus, Lac6p^de. 



It is also somewhat uncertain as to which of the two varieties is in- 

 tended in some of the earlier descriptions. Our views of each of these 

 are expressed in the above synonymy. 



]S"OTE ON Perca guttata, LiNN^us. — lu the tenth and twelfth 

 editions of the Systema Naturae, as well as in Gmelin's edition, appears 

 the following account of the Perca guttata : 



Guttata. 14, P. pinnis dorsalibus unitis, cauda Integra, corpora 

 punctis sanguineis adsperso. 



Marcgr. bras. 169, Cugupuguacu. 



Sloan, jam. 2, p. 280, t. 247,/. 2. 



Will.icht. 303, t. I. 



Raj. pise. J 127. 



Catesb. car. 2, p. 14, 1. 14. 

 Habitat. — America. 



The earliest of these references in point of time is that of Marcgrave, 

 and, if we are not mistaken, each of the later writers conceived that his 

 specimen was identical with Marcgrave's fish. 



We are indebted to Professor Poey for an outline of Marcgrave's ac- 

 count. The species is not figured. From the text it appears that the 

 Cugupuguacu is a gigantic fish ("piscis ingens"), its body, with the tail, 

 being 6 feet in length. It has a single dorsal fin, spinous in front ; its 

 caudal is quadrate ; its scales are small. The head, back, and sides are 

 gray in color, this hue mixed with darker shades. Fins, including the 

 caudal, dilute brown; whole head, back, sides, and pectoral fins with 

 small black scattered spots. Belly and the rest of the fins, with the tail, 

 without spots. 



This fish is manifestly neither Epinephelus apua nor Enneacentrus 

 cruentatus. It is most probably E. itaiara. 



