458 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



18. Lutjauus cyanopteius. 



Mcsopiion <!iaii02)tenis, Cuv. A. Val., ii, 172, 1828 (Brazil). 

 Memprion pargus, Cuv. & Val., ii, 473, 1*^28 (Puerto Eico). 



Hahiiat. — Brazil ; West Indies. 



We know iiotbing' eitlier of cyanopterns ov pargiis except from the de- 

 scriptions of Cuv. and Val. These descriptions seem to refer to a single 

 species, allied to L. huccanella, but with the canines stronger and the 

 bhick spot above the base of the pectoral. The soft ])arts of tlie vert- 

 ical tins iu " cyanopterns''^ are said to be bluish black. According to Vail- 

 lant and Boconrt this is one of the species which has the teeth on the 

 vomer in a A-shaped patch, without backward prolongation on the me- 

 dian line. It has also teeth on the tongue. 



19. Lutjanus Ivitjanoides. 



Oajurus luljanoides, Poey, Ann. Lye Nat. Hist., ix, 319, 1871 (Culta). 

 Lutjanus lutjanoides, Poey, Eniinieratio, 187.''>, 30. 



Rahitat. — Cuba. One specimen known. 



This species is known to us only from Poey's description. Its de- 

 scriber lias suggested the possibility of its being a hybird between (>. 

 chrysurii.s and L. ca.ris. 



The following is Poey's original description : 



"The fish, if not undoubtedly belonging to the genus Ocyvrvs of 

 Professor Gill, of which the Mesoprion ehrysurus is the tyi)e, (tomes 

 nearer to it than to any other genus, by the bifurcation of its caudal 

 deeper than in Lutjanus jocu, caxis, cahallerote, etc. The pointed snout 

 and the long canines would bring it among these last. From its colors 

 the fishermen are led to consider it a hybrid between the M. ehrysurus and 

 the L. caxis. They often thus dispose of a new fish, as in the case of 

 the Ocyurus amhlyuns and aurovittatus. But as such hybrids are rare 

 among fish, and especially so among these genera, it is, I believe, right 

 to consider the present species as a good one. 



"Total length, 290 millimeters, or 11.45 inches. The height of the 

 body, equal to the length of the head, is contained Sg times in the total 

 length. The eye is rather high up, and halfway from snout to tip of 

 opercle. The nostrils are on tlie middle of the snout, rather wide apart, 

 the posterior one oblong. The mouth is snmll, for the ends of the nrax 

 diaries are under the posterior nostril. The preopercle is only slightly 

 notched, finely denticulated ; the opercle without a spinous point. Tlu; 

 teeth are in one row, the canines rather long, and behind them there 

 are asperities; the palatine arch has teeth, and the tongue is rough. 



" The lateral line has about fifty-five scales, six rows above and tiftec n 

 below it ; there are scales on the opercles and temples, the rest of the 

 head naked. The scapular bones show outside. There are very small 

 scales on the interstitial base of the soft rays of the vertical fins. D. 10, 

 14. A. 3, 8. 



"The posterior borders of the dorsal and anal are rounded. The 

 caudal lobes are elongated, but less so than in the M. ehrysurus. The 



