598 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. tol. 42. 



Color in alcohol uniform pale brownish. 

 The dorsal fins were apparently black in life. 

 Type-Specimen.— Cat, No. 72582, U.S.N.M. 



RACHYCENTRON CANADUS (Linnaeus). 



One specimen, 170 mm. long. Batavia. 



DREPANE PUNCTATA' (Linnseus). 



Two specimens, 90 and 160 mm. long. Batavia. 



The smaller specimen has four free spines before the dorsal. These 

 are apparently articulated directly to the supraoccipital crest. Traces 

 of them can be seen in the largest specimen. 



PL AT AX TEIRA2 (Forskal). 



Three specimens, 180 to 200 mm. long. In very poor color. 

 Batavia. 



MEGALASPIS ROTTLERI^ (Bloch). 



Thirty-six specimens, 100 to 150 mm. long. Batavia, 26; Pelaboean 

 Ratoe, 10. 



Described as Scomber rotileri by Bloch, which some authoi-s have 

 identified with the Scomber cordyla of Linnaeus. We are unable to 

 decide in regard to the latter name, so use that of Bloch. The pres- 

 ence of finlets and the increased caudal armature seem to us sufficient 

 grounds for generic separation. 



CARANX FORSTERI Cuvier and Valenciennes. 



Three specimens, 230 mm., 235 mm., 290 mm. Batavia. 



We have examined all the specimens of this and related species in 

 the United States National Museum and have reached the following 

 conclusions : 



Caranx latus Agassiz is a very dift'erent species, with more soft rays 

 in dorsal and anal, with long snout, fewer scutes, and the curved and 

 straight parts of the lateral line about equal in extent. 



Caranx elacata is probably this species, also C. marginatus and the 

 type of C. rlidbdotus. The cotype of C. rJiabdotus is quite different 

 from the type in many characters and is probably a different species. 

 Both are very young. Specimens from Hawaii were first identified 

 as C. latus and later published as C. forsteri. They are apparently 

 all C. melampygus. 



Caranx parapistes Richardson is probably C. forsteri, as also C. Jier- 

 herti of Bennett. 



Caranx melampygus of Day (Fishes of India) is apparently a mix- 

 ture of C. forsteri and C. melampygus. He probably had both species 



1 Bleeker {HarpocMrus punctatus), Atlas Ichtli., vol. 9, p. 19, pi. 365, fig. 4. 



2 Idem, vol. 9, p. 73, pi. 379, fig. 2, and pi. 382, fig. 1. 



3 The specimens of Carangidse and Scombridse in this collection were examined by Mr. J. T. Nichols 

 of the American Museum, New York. Our identifications agree with those of Mr. Nichols except in a 

 very few cases where a more complete series for comparison has shown some obvious differences. 



