1260 Bulletin ^y, United States National Museum. 



Mesoprion cynodon, Cuvikr & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poisa., ii, 465, 1828, Martinique; 



San Domingo. 

 Mesoprion linea. Cuviek &. Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poisa., ii, 468, 1828, Cuba; San 



Domingo. 

 Mesoprion Jlavesccns, Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poisa., ii, 472, 1828, Martinique. 

 Metoprion eaxis, Poey, Repertorio, ll, 269, 1868. 

 Lutjanus caxis, Poey, Synopsis, 293, 1868; Poey, Enumeratio, 25, 1875; Jordan & Swain, 



I. c, 435; Jordan & Peslee, i.e., 443. 



1086. NEOM.EXIS AUGENTIVENTRIS (Peters). 

 (Pakgo Amaeillo.) 

 Head 2|; depth 2^. D. X, 14; A. Ill, S; scales 5-45-12; 45 pores. Body 

 formed as in X. apodus, moderately compressed, the back cousiderably ele- 

 vated; profile straight or slightly concave from snout to nape; the nuchal 

 region rather convex; snout long and pointed, anteriorly somewhat de- 

 pressed, its length 3 in head; eye moderate, 4^ in head; interorbital space 

 very gently convex, its width HI in head; mouth large, maxillary reach- 

 ing a little past front of orbit, its length 3 in head; upper jaw with two 

 strong canines in front, rather weaker than in N. apodiis; lower jaw with 

 the teeth in the outer series enlarged, some of the lateral teeth largest, 

 but scarcely caninelike; teeth on tongue in a single lurge, oblong patch; 

 teeth on vomer forming an arrow-shaped patch, with a long backward 

 prolongation on the median line. Gill rakers rather few and short, about 

 7 on lower part of anterior arch, these not preceded by rudiments. Preo- 

 percle with its posterior margin extending downward and forward, very 

 weakly emargiu.te, finely serrate above, almost entire at the angle. 

 Scales large, much as in N. apodus, the series above the lateral line almost 

 horizontal, and throughout parallel with the lateral line; scales below 

 lateral line anteriorly in series running somewhat upward and backward; 

 posteriorly in horizontal series; 6 rows of scales on the cheek; a band of 

 about 3 series of rather large scales on the temporal region; soft dorsal 

 and anal scaly ; tubes of lateral line each with 4 or 5 branches. Dorsal 

 spines strong, the longest 2§ in head; margin of soft dorsal well rounded, 

 the middle rays 3 in head; caudal not deeply forked, the upper lobe 1* 

 111 head; anal fin rather high, somewhat rounded, the longest rays 2^ in 

 head; anal spines strong, the second stronger and larger than third, 3^ in 

 head; ventrals 2 in head; pectorals reaching about to front of anal, l^ 

 m head. Color in spirits, brownish above, paler below ; each scale of sides 

 somewhat silvery near its middle, these forming narrow and rather dis- 

 tinct dull silvery streaks which follow the direction of the rows of scales; 

 a bluish horizontal streak below eye, most distinct in young examples; 

 fins pale; back olivaceous, anterior parts washed with maroon-red, bright 

 on sides of head, becoming more orange posteriorly ; posterior half of body 

 bright yellow; some pale streaks on scales; pectorals light orange-red; 

 other fins mostly bright yellow; a row of round blue spots below eye; 

 belly silvery, slightly washed with red; inside of mouth white; iris wiiite. 

 The above description is from a specimen from Mazatlan 11 inches in 

 length. Length 2 feet. Pacific coast of tropical America, generally com- 

 mon on the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America. It bears consid- 



