182 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 02 Vol. 2 



with a prominent bulge); distal margin of caudal fin rounded in 

 juveniles, truncate in small adults, the caudal rays becoming exerted 

 in the largest adults. 



Color in alcohol. — Juveniles (between 34 and 57 mm. in standard 

 length) have the background coloration whitish or light tan and the 

 anterior part of the body and head spotted with dark brown or 

 blackish, and the posterior half plain in color; back with two dark- 

 bordered, pale roundish areas enclosing on dorsal fin a black spot, the 

 first ring extending on last three dorsal spines and first three soft 

 dorsal rays, the second rmg at rear of soft dorsal and the black spot 

 on dorsal soft rays 9 to 11; base of caudal with a black bar, this in- 

 tensified with a black spot on dorsal half of base; caudal fin otherwise 

 white, except that a small amount of black pigment may occur in 

 some specimens, dorsal fin with dark spots, distal edge white; anal 

 fin blackish, distal edge white; pectorals white. A 57-mm. specimen 

 has dark anal and dorsal fins and the caudal fin broadly white edged, 

 with its center blackish. 



Young (between 91 and 165 mm.) have the background coloration 

 whitish anteriorly and brown spotted in front of a vertical line through 

 anal fin origm, behind this line, the back is plain blackish or plain 

 dark browu and ventrally pale or whitish ; dorsal and anal fins blackish, 

 with distal edges white; caudal fin blackish or dark brown, with 

 darker spots evident, the distal edges of fin white. A 57-mm. speci- 

 men has traces of the two round pale areas on back, but posterior part 

 of body dark brown and median fins blackish with white margins. 



Adults (between 121 and 310 mm.) have the background coloration 

 dark brown posteriorly, abruptly light brown anteriorly, the sharp 

 demarcation occurring over anal fin origin; head brown, the brown or 

 reddish brown spots on head preserve as white in alcohol, or some- 

 times brownish, and are much fewer in number than on smaller 

 specimens; dorsal, anal, caudal fins blackish, edged with white; 

 pectoral fin light tan, its base dark brown, axil dark brown; pelvics 

 dark brown; opercular flap edged with white, and with a dark spot; 

 one specimen at 196 mm. is plain dark brown, except for a pale bar 

 opposite tip of pectoral fin; at a length of 310 mm. the coloration is 

 plain blackish. 



Color when alive. — The spots on the head and anterior part of the 

 body are red, reddish brown, or brownish red, and the background of 

 the body in front of a vertical line through the anal fin origin is white; 

 the pale areas around the black ocellate spots on dorsal fin are orange ; 

 margins of dorsal and anal fin yellow; pale areas of caudal fin yellow. 



Ecology. — The smaller specimens of this species were taken in the 

 shallow w^aters of the reefs whereas the larger specimens came from 



