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



The two smallest specimens, 74 and 81 mm., have 15 to 17 alter- 

 nating pale and dark brown streaks on the head, anterior part of 

 body and dorsally along upper sides and back; posteroventrally the 

 light streaks fade into the general brownish color. The streaks on 

 the head are irregular. 



Background coloration of young brown to dark brown with few 

 to numerous alternating pale and dark streaks mostly on head in 

 larger ones and on head and on body in small young; dorsal and anal 

 fins blackish or brownish, always darker in color than brownish body; 

 dorsal and anal fins barred or mottled with darker shades; a small 

 black ocellate spot basally between dorsal spines I and II, a second 

 black oceUate spot between soft dorsal rays 2 to 5, this spot sometimes 

 extending a little beyond rays 2 and 5; pectoral fin whitish; pelvics 

 brownish; caudal fin varying from whitish in small ones, to dusky 

 or blackish in larger young, the distal edge of caudal fin narrowly 

 edged with whitish. 



There is considerable variation in the number of pale and dark 

 streaks from young to adult. From 16 to 25 mm. in standard length, 

 6 or 7 alternating pale and dark brown streaks occur on head and body; 

 4 brown ones on dorsal surface of head; 2 from behind eye; 1 below 

 eye through pectoral base, 1 below pectoral, and 2 on ventral surface 

 of breast in front of pelvics. At 28 mm. the same brown and pale 

 streaks occur, except that the center of each brown streak is somewhat 

 paler. Between lengths of 36 to 39 mm. the pale interspaces become 

 narrower and the pale centers of the brown streaks wider and more 

 prominent; however, some specimens between 32 and 37 mm. retain 

 the juvenile color pattern ; whereas between 35 and 40 mm. the number 

 of alternating pale and brown streaks number 12 to 15 on the head 

 and begin to disappear posteriorly on the body, the caudal fin is 

 white, becoming abruptly dark brown basally. On larger sizes the 

 pale and dark streaks may be discernible only on the head, and 

 dorsally on the body. 



Remarks. — This species is recognizable by its deep body, dark 

 brownish coloration with pale and dark streaks in combination with 

 the large ocellate spot between the second to fifth soft dorsal rays, 

 and whitish to dusky caudal fin. 



The adult, which is uncommon, differs from the young in lacldng 

 ocellate spots; it has instead a blackish new-moon-shaped cross bar 

 in middle of caudal fin. 



Randall, while studying fishes in the U. S. National Museum in 

 December 1954, pointed out to me the probability that notopsis of 

 Cuvier and Valenciennes represents the young of //. marginatus; in this 

 opinion I agree. 



