436 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



teetb, its length more than twice its width. Teeth on vomer formiug 

 an arrow-shaped patch with backward prolongation on median line, the 

 length of which is twice the width of the arrow-patch in front. Gill- 

 rakers rather short and thick, the longest about one-third diameter of 

 eye, about nine on lower part of arch. Preopercle with its posterior 

 margin directed somewhat obliquely forward, usually very weakly 

 emarginate, finely serrate above, almost entire at the angle. 



Scales large, decidedly larger than in L. jom'i. The series below the 

 lateral line almost horizontal; those above in rows parallel with the 

 lateral line, these becoming more or less irregular i)Osteriorly and ex- 

 tending ui^ward and backward below soft dorsal. About seven rows of 

 scales on the cheeks, one row on interopercle, one on subopercle, and 

 seven on opercle. Temj^oral region with a few large scales in about two 

 rows. Base of soft dorsal and anal scaly. Tubes of lateral line each 

 with four or five branches. 



Dorsal spines strong, the outline of the fin not greatly convex; the 

 fourth spine longest, 2H in head, the tenth spine 4 in head; margin of 

 soft dorsal well rounded, the middle rays longest, twice length of last, 

 2^ in head. Caudal not deeply forked, the upper lobe longest, IJ length 

 of middle rays, which are 2 in head. Margin of anal well rounded; 

 middle rays twice length of last, 2"^- in head, the first ray reaching about 

 to middle of last when the fin is depressed ; anal spines strong, the 

 second longer than third, 'S^^ in head. Ventrals 2 in head. Pectorals 

 reaching to front of anal, 1^ in head. 



Color of young in life, greenish, with about eight very narrow vertical 

 l)aler bars on body. Scales of lower part of sides with central orange 

 spots, forming faint streaks along the rows of scales. Belly pearly. 

 Head greenish ; a blackish streak from snout through eye to nape ; a 

 narrow, sharply-defined blue stripe below eye from snout to angle of 

 oi)ercle ; no lateral spot. Spinous dorsal edged with orange. Ventrals, 

 anal, and caudal pale orange-yellow. Pectorals paler. 



The adult examples differ from the young in the vertical bars being- 

 fainter or obsolete, and in the absence, usually, of the blue stripe below 

 eye and the dark stripe on temporal region. The soft dorsal, anal, and 

 caudal are always yellow, of varying intensity, and the edge of the 

 spinous dorsal is orange, not dusky. The whitish area below the eye, 

 very constant in L.jocii, is wanting in L. caxis. 



This species is ver3'^ abundant in the markets of Havana, Avhere it is 

 still known as Caji (in old Sj)anish Caxi., of which " CaxW'' seems to be 

 a plural form). This persistence of the common name is the only cer- 

 tain basis of identification of Parra's Gaxis. It is almost equally com- 

 mon at Key West, where, as in Catesby's time, it is known as the^ 

 "Schoolmaster." 



There seems to be little doubt that the names striatiis, linea, and .//«- 

 vesceiiH belong to this species, and in spite of the difference of color, 

 which seems to be the fault of the printer, the acutirosiris of Humeril 



