2150 Bulletin ^y, United States National Museicin. 



PrIONOTUS : 



aa. Mouth comparatively large, the maxillary 2 to 2J in the length of head, the mandible 

 extending backward to opposite eye, or nearly so; usually no distinct cross 

 groove on top of head; free rays of pectoral tapering, not expanded at tip; black 

 blotch on spinous dorsal diffuse, not ocellated, involving the membranes of more 

 than two spines. 

 .j Preoi)ercular spine without a distinct smaller spine at its base in front. 

 k. Pectoral fins very long, reaching at least to beyond the second third of the soft 

 ^orsal. 



I. Scales rather small, about 75 pores in lateral line; head large, comparatively 



smooth, the interorbital area narrow, concave, not j diameter of eye; orbital 

 rim low, scarcely serrate ; preorbital serrulate; pectoral fin long, reaching 

 middle of anal ; coloration plain, slightly clouded; form rather slender; head 

 2J; depth 4*. D. X-12;A. 11. MILES, 2488. 



II. Scales moderate, 50 to 55 pores in lateral line. 



m. Head large, nearly plane above, the interorbital space scarcely concave, its 

 width equal to eye; snout very short, 2J in head; maxillary 2J in head, 

 reaching past front of orbit; bands of palatine teeth very narrow; bones 

 of head smoothish, little striate; gill rakers rather long, about 10 below 

 angle; first dorsal spine slightly rough in front, the third spine nearly A the 

 length of the head; caudal slightly concave; pectoral reaching ninth aual 

 ray, its outline rounded; scales about 55. Color pale olivaceous, back 

 and sides with a few dark spots; second dorsal with 3 rows of black spots ; 

 caudal with 3 rows of dark blotches; pectorals with round dark blotches. 



D. X-12: A. 11. STEPHANOPHRYS, 2489. 



mm. Head not plane above, the interorbital space more or less concave; dorsal 

 spines 10. 

 71. Supraorbital cirrus wanting. 

 0. Pectoral tins moderate, not reaching in adult beyond dorsal and anal. 

 p. Interorbital space moderately concave, its width nearly equal to eye; 

 orbital rim little elevated; preorbital with 15 to 20 fine serra^ the last 

 one directed backward ; preopercular spine long. quiescens, 2490. 

 yp. Interorbital space very narrow, deeply concave, its width about f 

 length of eye; rim elevated and serrate; preorbital with about 20 

 small serrsB, blunt and even; head well armed; snout and jaws 

 white. ALBiROSTRis, 2491. 



00. Pectorals very long, reaching in adult beyond base of dorsal and anal; inter- 

 orbital space moderately concave, its width about J length of eye; no 

 cirrus above the eye ; distance from supraocular spine to nuchal scales 

 about equal to eye; supraocular and nuchal spines low: occipital 

 spines wanting; temporal ridge sharp, ending in a blunt spine; pre- 

 orbital projecting, strongly serrate; a blunt spine on each side of 

 snout, behind serrte of preorbital; a blunt spine behind this above 

 angle of mouth; no spine on cheekbone in adult; upper opercular 

 spine almost obsolete; bones of head rather strongly striate, but not 

 granulate; gill rakers short; mouth moderate; scales rather large; 

 about 52 pores. D. X-11 ; A. 10. First dorsal spine not much shorter 

 than second, which is 2 J in head; caudal very slightly concave; ven- 

 trals reaching a little past vent; head 3; depth 5. Color nearly plain 

 brownish, with darker clouds; no distinct spots anywhere on body or 

 fins; the pectorals marbled with paler. rubio, 2492. 



nn. Supraorbital cirrus present, fringed. Interorbital space very deeply con- 

 cave, its width about J length of eye; a fringed cirrus above the eye; 

 distance from supraocular spine to nuchal scales about i the eye; occipi- 

 tal as well as nuchal spines distinct ; temporal ridge with a small spine ; 

 no spine on cheek bone; bones of the head with fine, sharply defined 

 strife, but no granulations; upper opercular spine well developed; 



