58 REVIEW OF AMERICAN JULIDIN.E. 



Of the brilliant life-coloration in tlie species of tliis genus, specimens 

 preserved in alcohol unfortunately retain few traces. The features of 

 coloration noted in the following key are for the most part persistent. 



ANALYSIS OF AMERICAN SPECIKS OF PLATYGLOSSUS. 



a. Caudal fin very slightly concave, the middle rays shortest ; body robust, the depth 

 about 2f iu the length ; ventral fins with the outer ray produced, 

 more than twice as long as inner ray ; scales before dorsal not 

 crossing the median line, and arranged in about 5 series; color 

 bluish or bronze, with many sky-blue spots, most distinct posteri- 

 orly ; sky-blue spots and streaks on head ; a stripe passing from 

 snout to nape through upper part of eye ; fins with blue stripes; a 



dark axillary spot, ; end of pectoral dusky Radiatus, 1. 



aa. Caudal fin rounded or subtruucate ; the outer rays not produced, shorter than the 

 middle rays. 

 b. Scales before dorsal reduced iu size, extending across the median line and in 10 

 to 13 rows; ventral short, its rays not filamentous; snout rather 

 blunt; body moderately elongate, the depth 3| in length ; color oli- 

 vaceous, with some blue and bronze markings ; males with a broad 

 indigo-blue cross-band behind pectorals ; females with inky spots 

 on the scales of the upper posterior part of back ; pectorals yellow, 



with a black axillary spot Semicinctus, 2. 



hi. Scales* before dorsal large, in 5 or 6 rows, uot crossing the median line ; snout 

 moderately pointed, 

 c. Ventral finst with the outer rays produced, more than twice the length of the 

 inner. 

 d. Sides without conspicuous dark lateral band and with a dark vertical bar, 

 more or less distinct, extending downward from spinous dorsal ; 

 axillary spot obscure. 

 e. Body rather deep, the depth 3| iu length ; profile rather steep ; posterior 

 canines very strong ; no black spots on head ; caudal fin nearly 



plain ; vertical bar obscure Nicholsi, 3. 



ee. Body rather elongate, the depth about 3f iu length ; profile not steep ; 

 posterior canines rather small ; head with black streaks and spots 

 above ; caudal sharply barred ; vertical dark bar distinct. 



Garxoti, 4. 



dd. Side with a broad blue-1'lack lateral band extending from eye to tip of 



caudal. 



/. Spinous dorsal fin with no conspicuous black spot ; a dark stripe from eye 



to nape ; fins mostly dark, with pale edgings ; axil and tip of pectoral 



dark ; profile rather steep ; body rather robust, the depth 3^ in 



length DiMiDiAius, 5. 



//. " Spinous dorsal fin with a consi)icuous blue-black spot between the fifth 

 and seventh spines ; a dark spot under last dorsal ray ; a blue band 

 from suout thi'ough eye ; another from eye upward and backward 

 through operculum ; three bluish bands across nape and three 

 white ones across cheek ; base of pectoral with a small black spot." 

 (Giinther.) Maculipinna, G. 



* The character has, not been verified in F. nicholsi nor in P. macnUpinna, both of 

 which we place provisionally i7i this group. 

 t Not verified in P. macitliphina. 



