1596 BiiUcthi ^7, United States National Muscnni. 



slender, moderately compressed ; snout not very sharp, 3i in head. Eye 

 moderate, 5 in head. Posterior canines small. Dorsal spines rather low, 

 stiff and pungent, lower than soft rays; caudal truncate, If in head; 

 pectoral 1^ in head. Scales on breast small ; head naked. Coloration in 

 life, groundcolor olive brown; a rather dull olive-green stripe from above 

 snout along sides of back to tail, midway iK'tween lateral line and dorsal; 

 a Itrowuish area along lateral line; below this a distinct dark-brown 

 band from gill opening to middle of caudal on level of eye, and aliout as 

 broad as eye, ending in a small dark spot at base of caudal; below this 

 another light-brownish area bounded by a dark-bronze stripe on level of 

 pectoral, the belly abruptly pale; each scale of side with a narrow cres- 

 cent of deep greenish blue towards its base; these spots very distinct, 

 especially anteriorly, giving the whole fish a bluish cast; sides of head 

 pale orange; a bright blue wavy streak along preorbital, suborbital, and 

 opcrcle, turning abruptly downward on the subopercle; a faint blue 

 streak behind eye ; opercle with a deep indigo-black spot l)ordered by 

 liluish and yellow ; tip of opercle yellow ; the color bounded by a <-shaped 

 blue line; lower jaw Avith 2 cross stripes of coppery orange, the inter- 

 spaces white, the tip reddish; a small jet-black spot at base of last ray of 

 soft dorsal; dorsal fin light cherry led, with a row of translucent spots at 

 base; a narrow translucent median band, the tips translucent; caudal 

 translucent, tinged with red toward the Ijase; anal with a row of pearly 

 spots, and a cherry-red band, then a narrow pearly band, then a light- 

 yellow baud, then a light-red band, the tips translucent; pectorals yel- 

 lowish; ventrals white ; iris scarlet. This species reaches a smaller size 

 than any other of our representatives of the genus. It is also by far the 

 most common in the waters of Florida and Cul)a, and its range extends 

 considerably farther north than any of tlu' otliers. The variations due to 

 age and to character of Ijottom are very considerable, having caused the 

 establishment of several nominal species. In the description above 

 quoted by Professors Jordan and Gilbert of specimens from Charleston, 

 Pensacola, and Key West, these variations have been sufficiently indi- 

 cated. Our Cuban specimens (from coral sand) are much paler in color 

 than those farther north. The dark markings, however, remain similar. 

 In old examples the dark lateral bands fade, sometimes becoming more or 

 less broken; the corners of the caudal 1)ecome dark, and there is usually 

 a dark spot at base of last dorsal ray. Deeper water examples are quite 

 pale or red with distinct longitudinal stripes, and the spot at base of cau- 

 dal and at base of last dorsal ray distinct. Length 6 inclies. West Indies, 

 north to Charleston and Beaufort, North Carolina, south to Brazil; excess- 

 ively abundant along rocky or weedy shores and reefs, commonly taken 

 Avith hook and line by boys, (hivittatus, two-banded). 



fipams radiatus, Linn^us, Syst. Nat., Ed. xu, 472, 1766, Carolina; based on a specimen 

 from Charleston, sent by Dr. Garden; not Lahrus radiatus L., Ed. x. 



Lahrus bivittatus, Block, Ichth., pi. 284, fig. 1, 1792, from a painting by Plnmier, made at 

 Martinique. 



iaftrKspsiitocMiMS, LACliPKDE, Hist. Nat. Poiss.,ui, 522, 1800, Martinique; from a copy of 

 Plumiee'S painting. 



Julis humeralis, Poey, Memonas, ll, 212, 1860, Havana ; adult. 



