40 



BULLETIN 100, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



rather broad inner band of villiform teeth above and anteriorly 

 below; interorbital S% to 4%, nearly level or only very slightly convex. 

 Gill rakers 5 + 7, low knobs, 2% in gill filaments, which 2K in eye. 



Scales 43 to 46 in lateral line to caudal base and 3 or 4 more on 

 latter; 5 above, 13 or 14 below, 8 or 9 predorsal forward opposite 

 vertical preopercle edge. Caudal covered with rather large scales 

 basally. Scales with 12 or 13 basal radiating striae; 30 to 77 minute, 

 short apical denticles, with 3 to 5 transverse series of basal elements; 

 circuli fine. 



D. X, 9, 1, third spine 2% to 2% in head, first ray 2% to 3 ; A. Ill, 8, i, 

 third spine 3K to 4K, first ray 2% to 3; caudal 1% to 1%, deeply emar- 

 ginate; least depth of caudal peduncle 3% to 4; pectoral 1% to 1%; 

 ventral 1% to 2. 



Figure b.—Lethrintis variegatus Valenciennes, young 



Back and upper half of head brown, below pale to whitish. Colora- 

 tion of alcoholic examples often greatly variable, due to preservation. 

 Usually at least 8 to 10 dark brown blotches along back; these vari- 

 ousl}^ continuous on side below, at least on caudal peduncle though on 

 body anteriorly broken to form 4 or 5 alternating large dark blotches 

 smaller than eye, medially or at least below lateral line, of which first 

 conspicuous as deeper in color or m.ore pronounced; along lower side 

 of trunk and tail bands may again alternate as dark blotches, though 

 paler and less defined. In some partially bleached examples dark 

 lateral blotches fade and leave broad dark band from eye to caudal 

 base medially. Head variably dark brown above, paler beneath; dark 

 band extends from mandible tip to eye, another below eye down over 

 cheek and still a third down over vertical preopercle flange; often 

 pale interspaces on cheek with various dark blotches or cloudings. 

 Iris pale yellowish or whitish. Fins all pale. Dorsal spines and rays 

 with dark brown spots and on spinous fin membranes with variable 

 dark bands, sometimes broken as blotches or bars. Caudal with 5 

 dark transverse bands. Anals Hke dorsals. Pectoral pale, dark 

 blotch below middle of base. Ventral pale, with 4 transverse dark bars. 



