NO. 2294. FISHES FROM WEST AFRICA— FOWLER. 201 



BOOPS BOOPS (Linnaeus). 



Head, 3f to 3|; depth, 3| to 4|; D. XIV, once XIII, 14, once 13; 

 A. Ill, 15, once 16; scales 72 to 80 in lateral line to caudal base, and 

 5 or 6 more on latter; 5 to 7 scales above lateral line and 12 to 14 

 below; 20 to 24 predorsal scales; snout 3 J to 4| in head; eye 2J 

 to 3^; maxillary 3^ to 4; interorbital, 2| to 3|; rakers, 7 + 18 

 to 20, lanceolate, two-thirds to little less than filaments and latter 

 about half of eye. Seven examples, 85 to 207 mm. 



These agree with a series of Mediterranean examples in the 

 Academy, though some of the latter vary greatly in depth. The 

 scales of all show about 10 to 12 basal striae. 



PAGELLUS CENTRODONTUS (Delaroche). 



Head, 3; depth, 3; D. XII, 10 or 11; A. Ill, 12; scales 75 to 78 

 in lateral line to caudal base and 6 to 8 more on latter; 6 or 7 scales 

 above lateral line, 16 or 17 below; snout, 3f to 3i in head; eye, 3; 

 maxillary, 3; interorbital, 3f to 4; rakers, 13 + 19, lanceolate, about 

 long as filaments, which 2 in eye ; 7 scales on cheek. Two examples, 

 98 to 108 mm. 



Compared with a Mediterranean example 130 mm. long, scales of 

 all finely ciliated and with 6 to 10 basal striae. None of the other 

 Mediterranean examples, long in alcohol, show the dark shoulder 

 blotch distinct, and only a slight trace in the Horta examples. 



PAGELLUS ACARNE (Risso). 



Head, 3 J to 3^; depth, 3; D. XII, 10 or 11; A. Ill, 10; scales, 

 70 to 72 in lateral line to caudal base and 6 or 7 more on latter. 

 Body fusiform, elongate, moderately compressed. Head well com- 

 pressed, sides flattened. Snout about wide as long. Eye large, 

 slightly advanced, long as snout or 3^ in head. Mouth little 

 inclined, lower jaw shorter. Maxillary reaches slightly beyond eye 

 front, not quite to pupil. Front teeth fine and conic, and hind teeth 

 two rows of molars above and below. Front nostril pore about 

 two-fifths of eye before same, and hind nostril large slit close behind. 

 Interorbital broadly convex, wide as eye. Preorbital depth If its 

 length. Preopercle edge entire. Rakers, 10 + 13, lanceolate, nearly 

 equal filaments or 2J in eye. Pseudobranchiae long as gill-fila- 

 ments. Squamation very compact, scales narrowl}^ imbricated, 

 each with 9 or 10 basal radii, latter rather obsolete with age. 

 Suprascapula edge little jagged. Most of caudal covered with 

 minute scales. Lateral line nearly concurrent with dorsal profile, 

 elevated along side of caudal peduncle. Cheek with five rows of 

 scales. Dorsal spines pungent, slender. Soft dorsal inserted about 

 midway between spinous dorsal origin and caudal base, front rays 

 little elevated. Anal similar, spines slender and third longest. 



