26G2 Built ti)i //, United States National Museum. 



a. Aiial raya, at least anteriorly, each with a spinulo at base (these formea by a slight 



wiili'iiing of the tip of the interhasmal spines, each being covered by a little rough 



scale) ; front of dorsal with similar projections. 



h. Color Ijrown, with pale rounded spots; tins dotted with brown; a faint dark 



spot at first J of lateral line; snout with horny points ; month small, tlic 



maxillary reaching front of eye. SPiNOSus, 3030 



aa. Anal rays without spinules at their base. 



c. Anterior profile of head convex before the interorbital area, the very short 

 snout scarcely forming a reentrant angle at its base; fonn elliptic-ovate, 

 the outlines more regular than in P. luiiatus. 

 d. Dorsal rays 85 to 95. 



e. Scales not very small, about 75 pores in l:iter:il line; no blue mark- 

 ings, at least in the young. 

 /. Mouth small, the maxillary 3 in head ; no spines about tlie snout; 

 eye 3^- in length ; interorbital width 3 in head (in the type); 

 pectoral short; curve of lateral line 6 times in straight i)art. 

 Color dark brown, with numerous stellate white spots, the 

 most distinct of them with darker edgings; these generally 

 scattered over the body; but some of them on sides of body 

 gathered together in little rings ; these spots blue rather than 

 ^\ bite in life. - coNSTELLATrs, 3031. 



//. Mouth smaller, the maxillary 3' in head. Color light grayish, 

 tinged with reddish, with small round spots of darker gray, 

 and with lighter rings inclosing spaces of ground color. 



OCELLATUS, 3032. 



ee. Scales smaller, 90 to 95 pores in lateral line. Color of adult, reddi.sh 

 gray, the body everywhere covered with rings formed of round, 

 sky-blue spots, which are not confluent and not edged with black ; 

 besides these, very few detached spots or other blue markings. 



MACULIFER, 3033. 



dd. Dorsal rays 105 ; anal rays 80 ; pectoral short ; interorbital 8i>ace 2J in 

 head; depth IJ in length ; scales 91; body deep. Color (specimen 4J 

 inches long) grayish, much spotted and mottled with whitish, no 

 blue in young example. ellipticus, 3034. 



cc. Anterior profile of head strongly concave before interorbital area, the pro- 

 jecting snout leaving a marked reentrant angle above it. 

 (J. Mouth not very small; maxillary 3 in head. Color dark olive, with 

 many rings, curved spots, and small round dots of sky blue edged 

 with darker on body, these largest near middle of sides, where some 

 are as large as eye; 3 obscure dark blotches on straight part of lat- 

 eral line. LUNATUS, 3035. 

 (jij. Mouth sniall; maxillary SJ in head. Color highly variegated with dif- 

 ferent shades of gray, the pale blotches rounded, very irregular in 

 size and position ; no blue si>ots. leopardinus, 3036. 



3030. PL.\TOPHRYS SPIXOSUS (Poey). 



Depth IJ. D. about 74 ; A. about 57 ; scales about 80. Anal rays, at least 

 auteriorly, each with a sjjinule at base, these formed by a slight wideuiug 

 of the tips of the iuterhit'mal spines, each being covered by a little rough 

 scale; front of dorsal with similar projections. Snout with horny points; 

 mouth small, the maxillary reaching front of eye. Eyes very wide apart, 

 2§ in head, the interorbital space IHn head; pectoral fin short; curve of 

 lateral line 5 in straight part. Color brown, covered with pale rounded 

 spots; tins dotted with brown; a faint dark spot at first third of lateral 

 line. Described from specimens from Cuba, probably the types, 4^ inches 



