Jordan and Evermaiin. — Fishes of North America. 2497 



united as far back only as vertical from end of maxillary ; opercle adher- 

 ent above the upper angle, which is produced in a point extending above 

 the base of pectorals; below the angle the opercular margin runs very 

 obliquely forward. Eye large, greeter than interorbital width. Origin 

 of dorsal fin distant from nape by the length of the head, the fm a very 

 inconspicuous fold anteriorly, becoming higher posteriorly, where the 

 rays are evident; anal well developed along entire length, begiuning 

 immediately behind vent and running to tail, its rays visible; caudal 

 exceedingly short; pectorals very well developed, more than \ length of 

 head; vent just in front of base of pectorals. Head and body perfectly 

 translucent; a faint silvery luster on middle of sides anteriorly; a few 

 inconspicuous small light yellowish spots along middle of sides (disap- 

 pearing in alcohol) ; tip of tail dusky; upper margin of orbit black. Pa- 

 cific coast of Mexico. A single specimen, 3i inches long, was found buried 

 in the sand at low tide on the beach at Mazatlan. This specimen may be 

 identical with J<'ierasfer dithius, but it is more robust than Putnam's types, 

 with longer head and without enlarged teeth in upper jaw. It may be 

 regarded asdistinct, pending investigation, (arena, sand ; coJo, 1 inhabit.) 

 Fierasfer arenicola, Jordan & Gilbert, Pioc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1881, 363, Mazatlan. 

 (Type, No. 29244. Coll. C. H. Gilbert.) 



2869. FIERASFER BERMUDE\SIS (Jones). 



Head 8^ in length ; eye 4, longer than snout ; month large, the maxillary 

 reaching beyond orbit; pectoral 21 in head. Teeth small, acute, uuise- 

 rial, 3 in a line on the vomer; palatine teeth small.* Color pale brownish, 

 a bluish streak crossing the nape between the opercles, 4 pale points on 

 the back. VcTtebrie 100. Length 140 mm. West Indies. This descrip- 

 tion (by Poey) from a specimen taken in the stomach of a holothurian at 

 Havana. Others are recorded from Key West and St. Thomas, the latter 

 from an oyster; not seen by us; doubtfully distinct from Fierasfer dubins 

 or affinis, but the vomerine teeth said to be smaller. 

 Warapus affinis, Poey, Synopsis, 402, 1867; not Fierasfer affinis, Giinther. 

 Lefroyia bermudensis, Jones, Zoologist, ix, 1874, 3838, Bermuda.! (Coll. General Lefroy.) 



*In another specimen, according to Poey, the teeth are villiform, with an enlarged 

 series outside, the lower teeth largest, the ninth, tenth, and eleventh largest; teeth on 

 vomer small, acvite, in a row: palatine teeth hluntish. 



^ Fierasfer beniuidens^is (Jones) was thus originally described: 



" Total" Iciinth rather more than 4i inches. Greatest depth at the verticil of the pec- 

 torals ;!i lilies. The length of the head is slightly more th,an } of the total length. The 

 greatest width of the head rather less than J of its length. Body naked, attenuate, com- 

 pressed. Facial outline rugose. Eye moderate; horizontal diameter of eyecup IJ lines; 

 vertical diameter U lines. (Jape of the mouth ovoid. Lower .j aw shorter and received 

 within the upuer. CardiOum teeth of irregular size in both jaws, vomer, and palatnies, 

 tho.se of the llitter largest. I'.raiirhiosteiTals 7, inflated, united below. Vent thoracic. 

 Pectorals originating at the uiiper aiiule of the operculum, 3 lines in extent, and composed 

 of very delicite soft rays. Dorsal iiidist iiict. commencing in a groove about the vertical of 

 the twentieth anal rav, continuous to caudal extreme, where, in conjunction with the an.al, 

 it forms a small til.anjentoiis tip. Anal prominent, commencing iniiiiediately behind the 

 vent in adv.ince of the vertical of the upper angle of the operculum, ami extending to 

 the caudal extreme. About its center it is equal in depth to that of the body at same 

 nosition. Owing to the delicate texture of the fins it is impossible t.> ascertain certainly 

 the number of rays, but those of the anal exceed 140. Color, when dried out of spirits, 

 golden yellow ; the body traiisjiarent, showing the vertebne within ; a condition, according 

 to Lefrov, e(|uallv oliservalile ill life. ii i m + 



"I iirdpose to publish it .as Le/roiiia hennudensii, in compliment to the gallant otncer to 

 whom 1 .am indebted for the specimen." (J. Matthew Jones.) 



This species is probably identical with the one called affinis by Poey. 



