2384 Bulletin //, United States National Museum. 



885. SCARTELLA, Jordan. 



Scartella, Jordan, Proc. I'. S. Nat. Mus. 1886, 50 {microstoma). 



This genus differs from Blcnnius only in the entire absence of the pos- 

 terior canine. The rehitions of this genus with such species of Blennius 

 as Blennius cristatus are Aery close. It may be that the groups should be 

 reunited, or that several species hero referred to Blennius should be placed 

 in Scartella. (dHcxpTT/^, one who leaps.) 



2733. SCARTELLA MlCROSTOMi (Poey). 



Head i in length (5 with caudal) ; depth 3-^ (4|) ; eye 3^. D. XI, 14; A. 

 15 or 16. Body rather stout, compressed posteriorly ; head short, the 

 anterior profile straight and very steep, almost vertical from tip of snout 

 to above eye, where a sharp angle is formed with the straight line of the 

 back. Eye large, longer than snout. Mouth moderate, the maxillary 

 reaching to below front of pupil, its length 3;' in head. Teeth uniform; 

 no posterior canines in either jaw. A small tufted or multifid cirrus over 

 each eye, its length less than diameter of pupil; a row of about 3 short, 

 slender cirri along each side of najje. Gill meml»raues broadly united, 

 free from isthmus. Lateral line extending about to end of pectoral, each 

 pore with a short, simple branch above and below, directed outward and 

 backward; some conspicuous pores radiating from the eye. Dorsal fin 

 low, subcontinuous, the spines rather slender, lower than the soft rays, 

 the middle spines not much higher than the last; longest rays of dorsal 

 about i as long as head; caudal free from dorsal and anal, a little 

 shorter than head ; anal low ; pectorals slightly longer than head ; ven- 

 trals 1^ in head. The fins are somewhat shriveled, so that the count of 

 the rays is made with difliculty and may not be perfectly exact. Color 

 very dark olive brown, paler below ; head and anterior half of body plain, 

 posterior half si)rinkled with sharply defined dots of a vivid sky-blue 

 color, becoming white in alcohol; about 6 obscure round darker blotches 

 in a longitudinal series along sides posteriorly; fins dusky olive, mottled 

 with darker, the caudal obscurely barred, the anal with a pale edge; 

 spinous dorsal nearly black. Length 3} inches. Cuba. Here described 

 from a specimen taken by Dr. Jordan in Havana. We have also the fol- 

 lowing notes on Poey's type in the musenm at Cambridge: D. XI, 15; A. 

 17. Dorsal and anal free from caudal. Body rather robust, the head 

 blunt. Last tooth in each jaw a shade longer than its neighbor, but not 

 canine-like. Gill membrane free from isthmus. Dorsal spines low, rather 

 stiff, the fin deeply notched. Color much mottled, with some white spots 

 on posterior half of body ; a black ocellus behind first dorsal spine; 5 dark 

 bars along back. 



The following is Poey's description : Head 4^ in total length with caudal ; 

 depth 5|. D. XII, 15 ; A. I, 17 ; P. 14. Snout short ; profile falling abruptly ; 

 mouth small; eye 3 in head, twice interorljital space. Teeth 15 on each 

 side in each j aw. Gill membrane broadly united, free from isthmus. Lat- 



