86. SEERANID^ PEOMICEOPS. 541 
A. Ill, 9; scales 24-115-52. Gulf of Mexico, north to South Carolina; 
reaches a weight of 300 iJoiinds. 
{Serranus nxgritus Holbrook, Ick. S. C. 1860, 177: Serranua nigritus Gunther, i, 134; 
Goode & Bean, Proc. U. S. Xat. Mus. 1878, 182.) 
aa. Pyloric cceca numerous (50-70). {Rgporthodus* Gill.) 
851. E. niveatus (Cuv. & Val.) Poey. 
Brownish olive ; sides with many large, light blue spots, which are 
arranged in about 5 transverse rows ; a large quadrangular black spot 
crossing caudal peduncle above and running down on sides to below 
the lateral line. Body oblong, compressed, highest forwards; mouth 
large, oblique, maxillary reaching beyond middle of orbit; lower jaw 
slightly the longest; membranes of vertical fins scaled half way up; 
second anal spine about as long as third and much stronger ; toj) of 
head entirely scaled, except in front of nostrils. Eye large, as long as 
snout. Head 24; depth 2§. D. XI, 14; A. Ill, 9; Lat. 1. about 85. 
West Indies to Florida ; accidental northward. 
{Serranus mreatus Cuv. &, Val. ii, 380: Serranus nireaiiis Gunther, i, 130: Hyporihodua 
flavicauda Gill, Proc. Acad. Xat. Sci. Phila. 1861, 98, from Xevrport, E. I.) 
Dorsal spines 9. {Bodianuai Bloch.) 
852. E. pjinctatlis (L.) J. & G. — Butter-Jish ; Xigger-JiaJi : Coney. 
Olivaceous yellow or red, covered with small, round, dark-edged 
spots of blue ; one or two black spots on the tip of the chin and one 
on the caudal peduncle ; colors brilliant and variable. 4Iaxillary not 
reaching posterior margin of eye ; eye 54 in head ; preopercle finely 
serrate; its lower limb entire; caudal truncate; skull channelled be- 
tween the eyes, its upper surface smooth. Head 2f . D. IX, 15; A. 
Ill, 9; Lat. 1. 85. Pyloric cceca 8. Yertebrte 10 + 14. {Gunther.) 
Size small ; flesh soft. West Indies, north to Florida Keys; abundant. 
{Perea punctata L. Syst. Nat. x, 291, 1758 : Serranua ouatalibi Cuv. & Val. ii, 381, 
1829 (red variety): Serranua ouatalibi Giinther, i, 120: Serranua guativere Ctlt. A Val. 
ii, 383: Serranua carauno Cuv. & Val. ii, 383: Enneacentrua punctatua Poey, Rep. Fis.- 
Xat. Cuba, 1868, 288: Enneacentrua jmnetatua Goode, Bull. U. S. Xat. Mus. v, 59.) 
2T7.— PK03IICR0PS Gill. 
(Gill, MSS. ; Poey, Synopsis Piscium Cubensium, 1868, 287 : type Serranua guaaa Poey.) 
“This genus has the characters of Epinephelus, except the cranium, 
which resembles that of Trisotropis by the great interorbital width. 
*Gill, Proc. Acad. Xat. Sci. Phila. 1861, 98: tj'pe Hyporthodua flaticauda Gill = 8tr- 
ranua niveatua jnv. (n+o, below ; op^o?, straight ; c55oi;?, tooth.) 
tBloch Ichthyol; Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Ichth. 1801,330: type Bodianua guttatua 
Bloch. (From Bodiano, a Portuguese name of various similar fishes.) 
