>') 



450 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



2y ill head; tirst ray reaching middle of last ray wheu the fin is de 

 pressed. Seeond anal spine stronger than third and of ecjual length, ot 

 in head. Ventrals If in head. Pectorals reaching front of anal, 1^ in 

 head. 



Color in life rose-colored, silvery tinged below, slightly olivaceous 

 but not dark above. A large, round, maroon blotch, larger than eye, 

 just above lateral line and below front of soft dorsal, always present. 

 Series of strii)es of deep golden yellow along sides; 3 on head, the u])per 

 from snout through eye; about 10 on body, the lower nearly straight and 

 horizontal, the njjper undulating and irregular, extending upward and 

 backward. Belly uhite, its sides largely yellowish. Lips red ; maxillary 

 partly yellow; tongue yellowish; iris fiery red. Caudal deep blood- 

 red. Spinous dorsal nearly transparent, with a marginal and basal hand 

 of golden. Soft dorsal light red, edged with golden. Ventrals and 

 anal golden yellow. Pectorals i)inkish. 



Young specimens quite green above. Similarly striped Cuban speci- 

 mens are generally duller, with the yellow stripes decidedly coppery. 



In spirits the bright colois fade, only the lateral blotch and the streaks 

 on the head being persistent. 



This species is very common almost everywhere from Pensacola to 

 Brazil. It reaches but a small size, rarely exceeding a foot, aud it in- 

 habits chiefiy shallow waters. It is known about the Florida Keys and 

 Bahamas as Lane Snapper, and in Cuba as Biajaiba. In Havana it is 

 one of the most common food-fishes, in abundance not exceeded by any 

 other species. 



Its strongly nuirked coloration renders its recognition from descrip- 

 tions easy, and little doubt exists in its extensive synonymy. 



There is no doubt whatever as to the species intended by the Lane 

 Snapper of Catesby. The name synagriis of Linua'us is, therefore, with- 

 out doubt, the one which should be retained for the species. 



The relation to this si)ecies of the LuijuuKs amhujmis of Poey is dis- 

 cussed below. 



13. Lutjanus ambiguus. 



Mesoprion amhigiiHS, Poey, Meuiorias Cm1i;i, ii, 152, ISGO, tab. l"i, t'. 4; tab. I'.i, 



f. 18 (Cuba); Poey, Synopsis, 295. 

 Lutjanus amhiquus, Poey, Enuiueratio, 1875, 150. 



Habitat. — Cuba. One specimen known. 



Head, 2i% (3§); depth, 3 (3f ). D.X, 13: A. Ill, 9. Scales, (6) 9-53-15; 

 50 pores. Length (1303(), Havana), 9f inches. 



Body oblong, compressed, formed nuich as in L. synayris, but more 

 slender, the anterior [)rofile nearly straight from tip of snout to nape, 

 thence convex. Snout rather long and pointed, 3 in head. Eye small, 

 4|in head. Interorbital space narrow, carinate, its width 5^ in head. 

 Occipital keel rather prominent. Preorbital moderate, its least width fi 

 in head. Mouth moderate, slightly oblique, the lower jaw a little pro- 

 jecting, the maxillary extending to o])posite front of pupil, its length 



