334 EEVIEW OF SPECIES OF PRIONOTUS. 



Eahitat. — South Atlantic Coasts of United States, Beaufort to Saint 

 Augustine. 



This weH-marked species is rather common within the region from 

 which it is laiown. The specimens before us are from Charleston and 

 Beaufort. 



It was for a time regarded by American authors as the original punc- 

 tatus of Bloch ; but the evidence at present indicates that such is not 

 the case. 



5. Prionotus stephanophrys. 



Prionotus stephanophrys Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 454, 1880 

 (San Francisco) ; Lockington, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 529, 1880 (Point 

 Reyes, near San Francisco) ; Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mas., 

 G2, 1881 (Point Reyes) ; Jordan & Gilbert, Synopsis Fish. N. Am., 736, 

 1883 (San Francisco) ; Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. Am., 115, 1885 (name only). 



This species is known only from the original type, obtained in the 

 nets of the "parrauzelle," in deep water, between San Francisco and 

 Point Eeyes. From this specimen (in the National Museum), the descrip- 

 tion of Jordan and Gilbert, as well as that of Lockington, was taken. 



6. Prionotus rubio. 



Eubio Volador Parra, Descr. Dif. Piezas de Hist. Nat., 1787., lam. 38 (Ha- 

 vana). 



rrlonotus punctatus Poey, Synopsis Pise. Cubens., 1868, 304 (Havana) ; Poey. 

 Ennumeratio, 1875, 41 ; Jordan & Gilbert, Synopsis Fish. N. A., 1883, 

 956 (Descr. from Cuban specimens) ; ? Bean and Dresel, Proc. U. S. Nat. 

 Mus., 18^4, 151 (Jamaica). 



Prionotus rnhio Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mns., 1886,50 (Havana). 



Habitat. — West Indian fauna ; not rare about Cuba. 



We have two specimens from Cuba of this species, which Poey has 

 considered the Prionotus punctatus. The only basis of this identifica- 

 tion so far as we can see is tlie assumption that only this species of 

 Prionotus inhabits the West Indian fauna. As we have examples of a 

 different one from the Mgsican coast, this supposition is not well 

 founded. It is evident from a comparison of this species with Bloch's 

 figure that it has little or nothing in common with the fish painted by 

 Plumier. 



From related species, P. rubio is welldistinguished by its long pectorals, 

 and by its very short gill-rakers, much shorter than in any other spe- 

 cies, P. opltryas coming nearest it ia this respect. 



7. Prionotus ophryas. 



Prionotus ophrtjas Jordan «fe Swain, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mas., 542, 1884 (Pensacola); 

 Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. Am., 115, 1885. 

 Habitat. — Gulf of Mexico; in deep water. Known only from the 

 Snapper Banks, near Pensacola. 



Ouly the original type of this species is known. It was taken from 

 the stomach of a Red Snapper {Lutjanus aya), near Pensacola, by Mr. 

 Silas Stearns. 



