52 FISHES OF HAVANA, CUBA. 



Color reddish-gray, much paler than in Platophrys lunatus^ the body 

 everywhere covered with rings formed of round sky-bhie spots, which 

 are not confluent and not edged with black. These are smaller than iu 

 P. lunatus and less shar])ly defined. There are besides these very few 

 detached blue spots or other blue markings. Head with similar blue 

 spots, but DO rings. Area inclosed in the blue rings, not different from 

 the ground color. Caudal with blue spots. Other vertical fins with none, 

 the dorsal and anal mottled and with faint round dark blotches placed 

 at intervals. A large diffused d usky blotch at beginning of straight part 

 of lateral line. Another better defined on middle of lateral line, a very 

 faint one toward base of caudal peduncle. Pectoral grayish, with dark 

 cross-bars. 



General form elliptical ovate, more regular .nan iu P. hmafus, as the^ 

 profile in front of the interorbital area is regularly convex, scarcely 

 forming an angle at the base of the very short snout. Mouth small, 

 oblique, the maxillary 3| in head. Teeth iu a narrow band above, iu 

 two series below. Snout very short, 4 in head. Interorbital area 3^ in 

 head. Bye 4. 



Arch of lateral line short and high, its length 1^ times its height and 

 2| in head. 



Numerous irregular sharp tubercles on orbital rim in front of each 

 eye and on snout (characters of males). 



Filamentous rays of pectorals reaching very nearly to last rays of 

 dorsal. 



Gill-rakers, as in P. hmatu.s, few", short, and small. 



D. about 00; A. 70. Lat. 1. about 88. Head, 4; depth, 1|. Length 

 of specimen about 10 inches. 



Platophrys nebularis Jordan & Gilbert, from Key West, is allied to this 

 species, but deeper iu body and differently colored. It may prove to be 

 the young of P. maculiferus Poey, but if so it must undergo a consider- 

 able change in color, and there is also some notable difference in the 

 radial formula. Iu P. nebularis the depth is usually about 1§ to If in 

 the length ; the outline of the snout is much as in P. elHpticus, and the 

 curve of the lateral line is twice as long as high. 



193. Citharichthys aethalion Jordan, sp. uov. 

 (Subgeuus HcmirJionihii.i Bleeker. ) 



Head, 3f in length {4}^ with caudal); depth, 2^ (2f). D. 92; A. 64. 

 Scales, 18-65-18. Length of specimens, 6 to 7 inches. 



Color in life dark brown, darker than in Citharichthys spilopterus, 

 ■with many rings and spots of light gray and blackish, some of the black 

 rings with a black central spot. A diffuse dusky blotch on lateral line 

 above pectoral, and one near base of caudal peduncle. Fins with nu- 

 merous small inky spots and dark mottlings. Blind side pale. Colora- 

 tion less variegated than iu Platophrys nebularis, but similar in style. 



Form regularly elliptical, less compressed than iu Platophrys, the 

 profile evenly convex to the end of the snout. 



