PROCEEnTNGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 437 



best fits here also. The grueus of Cnv. & Val. aud of Glinther, which 

 Poey refers to the synonymy of Gaxis, seems to us to better fit the griseus 

 of Linnceus. 



We refer the Mcsoprion cynodon to the synonymy of this species on 

 the strength of Boconrt's comparison of his Mesoprion pacijicus {novem- 

 fmciatus) with Mesoprion cynodon. As one of the curators of the Mu- 

 seum at Paris, it is to be presumed that M. Bocourt had for examination 

 the original types of Mesoprion cynodon, and from his description it ap- 

 pears that the latter species is less elongate than L. oiovemfasciatus ; 

 that its canines are snmller ; that its lower jaw is less prominent, its 

 pectoral fins longer, and the scales a little larger. The color is reddish 

 brown above, with all the fins yellow. All these characters indicate 

 the identity of 71/. cynodon with Lutjanus caxis. Certainly it is not the 

 Ouhcra. 



Peters adopts for this species Schneider's name alhostriatus (appar- 

 ently originally a mere slip of the pen for striatm), " because another 

 species has been later named Mesoprion striatns.^^ He identified 

 Schneider's type with " Mesoprion linea C. & V." 



This species is closely allied to L. griseus and still more nearly to L. 

 jocu. The latter is very similar in form and coloration, but has de- 

 cidedly smaller scales. The former is more elongate, and has the ver- 

 tical fins always dark, while in caxis and jocu yellowish colors pre- 

 dominate. 



4. Lutjanus joctS. Dog Snapper ; Jocu. 



^oc«', PaiT.i, Dcscr. Dil". Piezas, Hist. Nat., i, 1787, taf.Si'), f. 2 (Cuba). 

 Anthiasjocii, Bl. & Scb., Syst. Ichthy., 310, 1801 (based ou Parra). 

 Mesoprion jocti, Cnv. & Val., ii, 466, 1828 (Antilles; Martinique); Poey, Eeper- 



torio, 268, 18()7 (Cuba). 

 Lxiljanns jocu, Poey, Synopsis, 292, 1868 (Cuba) ; Poey, Euumeratio, 26, 1873; 



Vaillant «fe Boconrt, Miss. Sci. an Mex., iv, 1881 ? 129, pi. v, f. 1 (synonymy 



mucli confused); Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1884, 12.5 (Key West). 

 Mesoprion litura, Cnv. & Val., ii, 467, 1828 (Cayenne; St.Thoinas). 

 Mesoprion c^Horfon, Giiuther. i, 194, 18.59 (St. Domingo; Jamaica; not of Cuv. 



& Val. ; excl. syn.). 



Eahitat. — Florida Keys, Cuba, San Domingo, Jamaica, Antilles, 

 Martinique, St. Thomas, Cayenne. 



Head, 2i (3i) ; depth, 2^ (3^). D. X, 14 ; A. HI, S. Scales (7), 9-5(}- 

 15 ; 45 pores. Length, 12 inches. 



Body comparatively deep and comi)ressed, the back elevated ; profile 

 steep and almost straight from snout to nape, thence little convex. 

 Snout rather long and pointed, 2f in head. Eye moderate, 4f in head. 

 Interorbital space narrow, gently convex, 5f in head. Occipital keel 

 moderate. Preorbital broad, 4| in head. Mouth rather large; jaws sub- 

 equal. Maxillary reaching front of orbit, 2| in head. Upper jaw with 

 a narrow baud of villiform teeth, out.side of which is a single series of 

 larger teeth ; 4 canines in front of upper jaw, two of them very large, 



