188G.] PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 225 



NOTES ON SOME FISHES COLLECTED AT PENSACOLA BY MR. 

 SILAS STEARNS, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF ONE NEW SPECIES 

 (CH^TODON AYA). 



By DATIO H. JORDAN. 



A small tank of fisbes lately sent by Mr. Silas Steams to the museum 

 of the Indiana University contains, among others, the following inter- 

 esting species from the '' Snapper Banks," near Pensacola. The type 

 of the species which is regarded as new to science has been presented 

 to the United States National Museum. 



1. Exoccetus heterurus Eafinesque. 



Exocaiiis novehoracensis Mitchill. 

 One specimen, without barbels, answering very well to the account 

 given by Jordan & Meek (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1885, 59). 



2. Exoccetus furcatus Mitcliill. 



A young specimen, without barbels, agreeing well with our account, 

 above cited, and corresponding almost exactly in size and in other re- 

 sjjects to the figure given by Vinciguerra of his Exooectus maculipinnis, 

 from Tunis (Eisultati Ittiologici del Violante, 1883, 113, tabola 1, f. 6). 



3. Siphostonia mackayi Swain & Meek. 



Two specimens differing somewhat from the original tyi)es of this 

 species. Dorsal rays about 32, on 2^+5J rings. Kings 18+36. Form 

 more slender than in the types (the specimen smaller however), the 

 dark cross-bars more marked, about 14 in number, and broader than 

 the interspaces. Light spots obsolete. 



A manuscript S]iecies of this genus, Siphostoma miurum^ Swain & 

 Meek, from Key West, has been once or twice mentioned. The descrip- 

 tion of this species has been suppressed hy its authors, bec^ause, in some 

 way, its type has been lost or destroyed. The name is therefore null. 



4. Chcetodon aya, sp. nov. (No. 37747, U. S. N. M.) 



Head 2i in length (3 with caudal) ; depth. If (2). D. XII, 18. A. 

 Ill, 17. Scales, 9-36-17. Length of type, 1^ inches. 



Body short and deep, strongly compressed. Snout narrow, sharp, 

 <;onsiderably })roduced, its length from eye 2f in head, its outline form- 

 ing in front of eye a sharp angle with the profile of the head. Anterior 

 profile steep and straight from before eye to first dorsal sinne. Eye 

 large, about as long as snout (in young), a little longer than post-orb- 

 ital part of head. 



Dorsal fin higli, the second spine highest, very strong, as long as head. 

 Soft dorsal high, higher than the posterior spines, the longest rays about 

 half head. Anal similar to soff dorsal, its second spine stoulei- tlian 

 Proc. N. M, 86 15 OctoSsci' 125, l^^Hia, 



