PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 277 



Body rather elongate, soiiiewliat compressed, the back a little ele- 

 vated. Head uot deep, the snout short, but not blunt, 3 to 3;V in head; 

 preorbital very narrow, little wider than pupil; maxillary reaching mid- 

 dle of pupil, 2 in head ; eye large, 3i in head; scales of cheek small, in 

 about 11 rows; gill-rakers short, not one-third as long as pupil; preop- 

 ercle sharply serrate. 



Scales of moderate size, those above lateral line in very oblique rows, 

 those below in horizontal rows. 



Dorsal spines rather high, the longest 1^ to 24 in head, longer than 

 the second anal spine; caudal well forked, the up[)er lobe the longer, 

 1^ to H in head ; second anal spine strong, longer and stronger than 

 third, 2| to 24 in head, reaching, when depressed, to base of last ray; 

 ventrals If to If in head; pectorals 1^ to 1^. 



Two specimens, in good condition, the largest oi inches loug, were 

 taken from the mouth of a Eed Snapper at Pensacola. Our specimens 

 agree in color with Hwmulon fremehundum , described by Goode & Bean, 

 from Clearwater Harbor. The latter species is, however, quite different, 

 being less elongate, with much smaller mouth and much larger scales, 

 there being but 9 or 10 series between the lateral line and the vent. 



76. Pomadasys fulvomaculatus (Mitch.) J. & G.— Pig-fish. P. G. (UO:!!.) 

 Orfho2)ristisdiq)Jex Grd. U. S. Mex. Bouutl. Surv. 1859, 15. 

 Friatipoma fasciatum C. & V. v, "285; Giiutber, i, 301. 



A common shore fish of small size and good quality. It has little 

 economic importance. 



Color in life light blue above, shading gradually into silvery below ; 

 preorbital and snout of a clear sky-blue ; a dash of blue on side of 

 upper lip; each scale on body with a blue centre, the edge with a bronze 

 spot ; these forming on back and sides very distinct orange-brown stripes 

 along the rows of scales; those above the lateral line extending ob- 

 liquely upward and backward, those below nearly horizontal. Snout 

 with bronze spots ; one or two bronze cross-lines connecting front of 

 orbits ; two or three oblique lines on preorbital ; besides numerous bronze 

 spots larger than those on the body; preorbital also with dusky shades, 

 one of which extends on upper lip. Cheeks and opercles with distinct 

 bronze spots, larger than those on the body. Inside of mouth pale ; in- 

 side of gill cavity tinged with golden. 



Dorsal translucent, with about three bronze longitudinal shades, com- 

 posed of spots, those on soft dorsal most distinctly spot-like; edge of 

 the fin dusky. Caudal plain, yellowish at base, dusky toward the tip. 

 Anal whitish, its edge dusky, its base shaded with bronze. Pectorals 

 and ventrals yellowish, the latter darker at tip. 



Fresh specimens, so far as we have noticed, show no trace of vertical 

 bands. On examples preserved in alcohol, the yellowish and blue 

 markings gradually disappear, and dark cross shades become apparent. 

 A specimen 5 years in alcohol shows the following coloration : Silver- 



