442 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



the confusion in tbe synonymy given by Dr. Giinther, shows that his 

 material was insufficient to form any definite opinions. 



This species is closely allied to L. caxis on the one hand and to L. 

 cuhera on the other ; the former is deeper and differently colored, as 

 already stated. The latter is similar in form and color, but has the 

 dentition of lower jaw and vomer <lifierent. 



This species rarely exceeds or 8 pounds in weight, while L. cuhera 

 reaches a much greater size. 



6. Lutjanus cubera. Cuhera. 



Mesoprion cynodon, Voey, Repertorio, ii, 268, 1868; Poey, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. 



Pbila., 1863, 185 (Cuba; uot of Cuv. «& Val.). 

 Lutjanus cynodon, Poey, Synopsis, 1868, 294. 

 ^ Geiiyorofje canina, Steiiulacbuer, Icbtb. Notizen, ix, 18, 1869 (Lagos; probably 



young). 

 Lutjanus cuhera, Foej, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y., 75, 1871 (Cuba); Poey, 



Ennnu'rat o, 1875, 27. 

 'i Lutjanus dditatus, (A. Dunidril MSS.?) Vaillaut & Bocourt, Miss. Sci. an Mex., 



1881 (?) 125 (Brazil? ; comparison witb L. pacificus). 



Habitat. — West Indies; Cuba; Brazil. 



Head, 28; depth, 3. D.X, 14; A. 111,8. Scales (C), 7-50-12; 50 pores. 

 Length of a specimen from Cuba, 17i inches. 



Body elongate, rather robust, the back little elevated; profile from 

 snout to nape nearly straight. Snout long, thick, rather acute in profile, 

 3 in head. Eye rather small, 5^ in head. Interorbital space flattish or 

 gently convex, G^ in head. Occipital keel low. Proorbital broad, 4f 

 in head. Mouth very large. Maxillary reaching middle of eye, 2^ in 

 head. Canine teeth larger than in any other species, especially those 

 in lower jaw. Upper jaw with a narrow band of villiforni teeth, outside 

 of which is a series of strong sharp teeth ; 4 canines in front, two of 

 them very long and strong, their length f diameter of eye. Lower jaw 

 with 5 or G very strong canine-like teeth on each side ; the largest little 

 smaller than the canines of upper jaw ; a few villiform teeth in front of 

 jaw. Tongue with a large oblanceolate patch of teeth, pointed behind, 

 its length about twice its greatest width ; vomer with /^-shaped patch of 

 teeth, usually without backward prolongation on median line, but some- 

 times with a short median prolongation, (a-) its length always less than 

 the width of the patch in front. Pterygoid and hyoid bones without 

 teeth. Gill-rakers rather short and thick, about ^ length of diameter 

 of eye, about 8 on lower arch ; no rudiments. Preopercle with poste- 

 rior margin nearly vertical, the emargination broad and shallow. Pre- 

 opercle finely serrate above the teeth, coarser just above the angle ; 

 lower limb almost entire. 



Scales rather large, loosely attached ; cheeks with about 8 rows, 1 

 row on interopercle, 1 row on subopercle, and about 7 on opercle. 

 Temporal region with about two rows of large scales. Tubes of lateral 

 line simple. Base of soft dorsal and anal scaly. 



