PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 455 



because it is brought to that city from the Mexican coast. According 

 to Poey it is comi)aratively rare in Cuban waters, although (hiily seen 

 in the markets. Its synonymy is somewhat complicated, and. some 

 doubt exists as to the proper specific name. 



We place here with doubt the names aya and rvber, based on the 

 Acara Aya of IMarcgrave. This is said to be a red TAitJanvs, .3 feet 

 in length, and with a red circle around its iris. It is therefore much 

 more likely to have been this species than the Lufjanus j^rofimdiis, with 

 which it has been identified by Cuvier. It seems to us, however, that 

 this identification is too uncertain to warrant the use of the name for 

 either species. 



The name vwanvs is based on two young specimens which Professor 

 Jordan has examined and which he considers to belong to this species, 

 although, as already stated, these specimens are, for this species, un- 

 usually slender. 



The type of Mcsoprion campecManus is a stuffed skin of a young fish 

 apparently belonging to this species. In this specimen the eye is larger 

 than it should be in a Red Snapper of that size, it being, as Poey has 

 correctly stated, 4 in. head. This large size is, however, probably due 

 to the shrinkage of the orbit in drying. 



Poey also counts "05 scales above the lateral line and 5."{ below," a 

 larger immber than others count in this species. This difference is 

 doubtless dependent on the method of counting. 



Lutjanus torridus, loosely described and poorly figured by Cope, seems 

 to be also the Red Snapper. 



We have examined Professor Cope's type of Lutjanus torridus in the 

 Museum of the Academy at Philadelphia. It is 11 inches in length 

 and in poor condition, but it apparently belongs to this species. In 

 life it was probably red, with the posterior edge of the caudal narrowly 

 black; no evident black lateral spot. 



Head, 3; depth, 3|. D.X,14; A. 111,8. Scales (7) 11-58-x; o.'j pores. 



Maxillary 2^ in head, extending to past the front of the large eye, 

 which is 4 in head. Preopercle strongly serrate. Dentition and gill- 

 rakers as above described in Jj. vivanus. Longest ray of anal half 

 head, the fin mesially elevated as in L. vivanus. Second anal spine 2f 

 in head. 



The type of Lutjanus hlackfordi is of course specifically identical with 

 the specimens which form the basis of the above descriptions. The de- 

 scription published under this name by Goode & Bean is the first tol- 

 erable account of this most valuable food-fish. We regret, therefore, 

 our inability to retain the ap]>roiniate name which these authors have 

 bestowed on the species. 



16. Lutjanus analis. Mutton-fish; Vargo ; Fargo Criollo. 



Anihias (Juartus lionddcti (the Miitton-fisli), Catosby, N.at. Hist. Carolina, 



1743. 

 Mesoprion avaJis, Cnv. ».V Val., ii,45*2, 1828 (San Doniingo)^ Poey, Mem., ii, 140, 



18H0, tab. 13, fig. !) (Cuba); Poey, Ropcrtorio, i, 2(i6, 18(37 (Cnba); Poey, 



Syuoi)si9, 294, 1868 (Cuba). 



