Jordan aitd Evermann. — Fishes of North America. 1163 



its profile c'.epressed or slightly concave above the eye, convex at the nape. 

 Snout very short, 4| in head ; lower jaw projecting. Maxillary scaly. 

 Mouth large, the maxillary, even in the young, reaching much beyond the 

 eye, 2 in head, its tip in the adult as wide as eye. Teeth in broad bands, 

 those of the outer series somewhat enlarged, the canines very small, 

 scarcely differentiated, but present. Interorbital area flattish, very 

 broad, its width 5 in head. Nostrils snbequal, roundish, close to the eye. 

 Preopercle convex, with a slight emargination, the angle a little promi- 

 nent, with somewhat larger teeth. Opercular flap obtusely pointed, its 

 upper edge curved. Opercular spines small and Idunt. Gill rakers short 

 and thick, few (about 12) in number. Scales comparatively large, mostly 

 ctenoid. Scales of the lateral line each with 4 to 6 conspicuous radiating 

 ridges separated by furrows. Dorsal spines low and strong, the third, 

 fourth, and fifth subequal, 4 in head, the outline of the fiu scarcely con- 

 vex ; second spine lower than tenth ; caudal tin rounded, its outer rays 

 very much shortened, little more than half the length of the middle raj'S, 

 which are lA in head. Anal rounded, its longest rays 2\ in head; second 

 anal spine rather shorter than third and a little stronger, 4f in head ; pec- 

 toral reaching a little beyond tips of ventrals. If in head ; ventrals 2, not 

 reaching vent. Pyloric coeca excessively numerous and finely divided. 

 Color of adult nearly uniform dull olive brown, the spots and bauds faint 

 or obsolete. Young specimens in life pale olive green, slightly yellowish 

 on breast and lower jaw, the body with 5 cross bars of dark olive green, 

 with irregular but rather sharply defined edges, and extending on the 

 dorsal and anal fin ; 2 under spinous dorsal, 2 between soft dorsal and 

 anal, 1 on caudal peduncle; these bars partially or wholly disappear in 

 si)irits ; a dark blotch at nape ; two shades down and backward from eye; 

 a bar at base of caudal ; round blackish spots smaller than pupil, of dift'er- 

 ent sizes, scattered over the whole of head and nuchal region ; a few along 

 back ; these smallest on upper part of head, largest on back and lower 

 parts of sides of head ; breast and belly plain ; dorsal fin olive, with dark 

 clouds like the body, a few spots on spines and tips of soft rays ; caudal 

 much clouded with dark, which form series of spots on the hinder parts, 

 these spots smallest and best defined posteriorly. Anal similar to caudal ; 

 pectorals light olive, profusely covered with large dark spots ; ventrals 

 similar to pectorals, with fewer spots. Tips of pectorals aud caudal 

 slightly reddish. In spirits the dark bands and blotches of body are more 

 or less faded. Length 2 to 6 feet. Both coasts of tropical ATuerica north 

 to Florida aud Gulf of California, south to Brazil ; not uncommon about 

 rocks; here described chiefly from a young specimen, 16 inches long, from 

 Key West; specimens examined by us from Punta Arena, Mazatlan, Pan- 

 ama, Key AVest, Havana, Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Pernambuco, and Can- 

 narivieras. Dr. Boulenger records a specimen 5 feet 7 inches long from 

 Clarence River, New Sv^uth Wales. We are not able to separate the Pacific 

 Coast form, Promicrops quinquefasciatus, from the Atlantic guttaiits. {gut- 

 tatus, spotted.) 



Cugupugitacu, Marcobave, Hist. Brazil, lOi), lti4S, Brazil. 



