PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 457 



rather strong, of equal length, 3f in head. Veutrals If in head. Pec- 

 torals reaching slightly past origin of anal, l-i% in head. 



Color in life, dark olive-green above; many of the scales with i)ale 

 blue spots, these fornung irregular oblique streaks upward and back- 

 ward ; similar stripes more regular and numerous on caudal peduncle, 

 and above anal. In old fishes these blue spots and streaks disappear. 

 Belly, white, strongly tinged with brick-red ; about six narrow, dusky, 

 vertical bars, a little broader than the interspaces and not well-defined 

 between gill-opening and anal. Head, bionze olive, darker above; a 

 broad, undulating, pearly streak from snout below eye to upper edge 

 of gill-opening ; a narrow blue streak from eye to nostrils ; iris, fiery 

 red. Pectorals, caudal, anal, and ventrals, brick-red, the caudal nar- 

 rowly margined with black and a little bronzed above. Dorsal, red- 

 dish along the rays and tips of membranes, otherwise yellowish; lateral 

 blotch just above the lateral line, and below the first soft ray of dorsal 

 distinct, about as large as pupil, smaller than in other species similarly 

 marked, and seldom disai)pearing with age. Axil and bar across base of 

 pectoral above pale or dusky olive. In spirits the markings become 

 fainter, the lateral blotch and the bluish streaks on head usually per- 

 sisting. 



This species is rather common at Key West, where, as elsewhere in 

 the West Indies, it is known as Mutton-fish. At Havana it is the 

 Pargo {par excellence) or Pargo Criollo. It is perhaps the most imi)or- 

 taut food-fish of the Havana markets, being always abundant, and its 

 flesh always healthful. It reaches a large size, and its flesh is fairly 

 flavored, although not very delicate. 



The names analis and sohra of Cuv. & Val. seem to belong to this 

 species without question. Mesoprion isodon is identified by Vaillant 

 with L. analis on coiujjarison of typical examples. Lntjamis rosaceiis 

 is described as a distinct species from a large specimen 27i inches in 

 length. The only tangible distinction which we find in the long de- 

 scription is that the eye is one-sixth the length of the head, while in L. 

 analis of the same size the eye is 8i in the head. 



We hesitate to admit L. rosaceus as distinct from L. analis. The 

 larger eye and redder coloration perhaps indicate a specimen from 

 deeper water than usual. 



17. Lutjanus Colorado. Parqo Colorado. 



Lntjanus Colorado, Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1881, 338, 3.51, 355 

 (Mazallau) ; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1882, 107, 110 (Ma- 

 zathm; Pauama). 



Habitat. — Mazatlan and Panama. 



This species, the Pacific representative of Lutjanus analis, is rather 

 common along the Pacific coast from Mazatlan to Panama. It is a good 

 food-fish and reaches a considerable size. At JVfazatlan, it is known as 

 " Pargo Color ailo,^'' which in English would be " Red Snapper." The 

 original description already published in these proceedings need not 

 now be repeated. 



