1886.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 337 



This abundant species is well distinguished from the others of the 

 Atlantic by the greater development of the spines of the head. The 

 young have these spines much larger and more compressed than the 

 adult, and in the very young, three or four strong knife-like spines are 

 developed on each side of the snout, as in the types of P. horrens. In 

 very young examples the spine at the base of the preopercular spine 

 is much larger than the latter. 



The synonymy of this species offers no difficulty. In our opinion, 

 this is the species intended by Bloch in his figure of Trigia Carolina, 

 and not the P. pimctatus as supposed by Cuvier & Valenciennes. 



13. Prionotus horrens. 



Prionotus horrens Richardson, " Voy. Sulph. Ichtb., 79, 1843, t. 42, fig. 1-3;" 

 (Gulf of Fouseca) ; Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mu8.,ii, 19.5, 1860 (copied) ; 

 Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 387, 1865 (name only). 



Habitat. — Pacific coast of Central America. 



This species is known from several young examples now in the Brit- 

 ish Museum. These are almost exactly like the young of P. tribulns, 

 difieriug chiefly in the still larger proportionate size of the knife-like 

 spines on the head. It is not unlikely that they may prove to be the 

 young- of P. miles or possibly of P. hirostratus, but a more accurate 

 knowledge of both these species is needed before such an identification 

 can be more than suggested. The following notes on the types of Prio- 

 notus horrens were taken by Professor Jordan in London. 



Three young specimens, allied to P. tribulus, but the spines still 

 larger and more knife-like. First spine on edge of snout broad and 

 serrate, three behind this progressively larger, then two large spines 

 on preopercle, the posterior one the largest. Two smaller ones on oper- 

 cle and one very large on the scapula ; two sharp ones over each eye ; 

 one behind the eye; two on top of head and two on occiput. Mouth 

 large, maxillary reaching front of eye, 2^ in head; gill-rakers long and 

 slender, 5. Scales small. Pectorals short, 3 in body, reaching some- 

 what past second dorsal front ; pectorals and tip of caudal dusky. No 

 groove behind the eye. Belt of palatine teeth narrow. 



14. Prionotus birostratus. 



Prionotus hirostratus Richardson, "Voy. Sulph. Ichth., 81, 1843, pi. 42, fig. 

 4-6, Gulf of Fonseca"; Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ii, 196, 1860, 

 (copied) ; Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 387, 1685 (Panama). 



Habitat. — Pacific coast of Central America. 



Several specimens of this species were obtained by Professor Gil- 

 bert, in Panama, at 1883. These were destroyed by fire before any 

 description was taken, and now the species is only known from the 

 original account of Richardson. 



15. Prionotus japonicus. 



Prionotus japonicus ^leekev, "Japan, 398, 1854 " (Japan) ; Bleeker, Verhand. 

 Batav. Geuootsch., xxvi, Japan, 75, tab. 5, fig. 1"; Giinther, Cat. Fish. 

 Brit. Mus., ii, 196, 1860. 



Proc. N. M. 86 22 October 19, 1 886. 



