1886.] PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 473 



Fo. 3501, 9 , from Pensacola. This specimen is fourteen inches long. 

 In color it is of a darker brown than No. 2987 ; tip of snout with a black- 

 ish area near its edge ; a large black blotch covering space from each 

 eye forward and outward to edge of disk ; space between the eyes plain, 

 that between the spiracles with two dark blotches containing paler 

 centeris ; a large triangular area of pale bounded by dark extending back- 

 ward and outward from each spiracle; a similar area on the median line 

 behind the spiracles; behind this and on the middle of the back is a 

 much larger space similarly inclosed by an irregular dark line ; on a line 

 between this and the edge of the disk is a much smaller one; in front 

 of this and nearer the median line is another larger one ; pectorals with 

 three or four groups of dark lines and spots ; two pairs of such spots 

 on the tail in front of dorsal fins ; each dorsal in a dark cross-blotch 

 which extends up on the fins ; a black blotch on the anterior edge of each 

 dorsal, and three on the caudal. Pale below, with edges of pectorals 

 and veutrals dusky. The position of the markings is almost identical 

 with that in specimen No. 2987. The only material difference in the 

 coloration is that the larger specimen is darker and the spots and 

 blotches have taken on the forms of lines inclosing areas of the general 

 color of the back. 



The third specimen (No. 1525, 2 , from Pensacola) measures seventeen 

 inches in length. Above, it is almost uniform dark brown; below, pale, 

 with two small dark spots just back of the mouth ; another on each side 

 near the middle of the pectoral fin ; edges of the pectorals dusky. 



8. Sidera nigromargiuata (Girard). 



{Neoniiird'iia ti'ujromarginata Girard.) 



This species was first described in the Mexican Boundary Survey, 

 from a specimen collected at Saint Joseph's Island, Texas, in 1853, by 

 Gustav Wiirdemann. Since that time no other specimens have been 

 seen, and Girard's specimen has been regarded as being identical with 

 Sidera oceUata. The spots in Girard's plate were seen to be too small 

 for ocellata, but this was thought to be the fault of the artist. The one 

 specimen, a foot in length, which we have, was found dead on the beach 

 of Santa Kosa Island by Mr. Evermaun, and it agrees so exactly with 

 Girard's plate that we have no hesitancy in referring it to that si)ecieSj 

 which we now believe to be a valid one and sufficiently distinct irom 

 Sidera oceUata. 



The markings in S. nigromarginata are much finer than in S. oceUata, 

 Color rather pale olive (in si)irit8), with a broad dusky shade along 

 sides. Everywhere, except on belly, with round stellate pale olive sj^ots 

 of unequal size, the largest scarcely larger than the pupil. Sjiots on 

 head and anterior parts smaller than the others. Dorsal and anal tins 

 mostly black, the color on the dorsal formed of round black blotches, 

 which are more or less confluent. No black around gill-opening. 



Mouth smaller than in S. oceUata, the gape 3 in head. Head 2^ in 

 trunk. Tail a little longer than head and trunk. 



