Rhomboplites 



line and behind dorsal fin; above this a pearly purplish area; below it 

 a flesh-coloured or rosy area or band 2 scales broad, then a succession 

 of about 16 narrow streaks alternately flesh-coloured and yellow, 

 growing fainter progressively below; edges of scales yellow, their 

 centres reddish; iris fiery red; lower parts of head flesh-colour, with 

 some yellow spots; maxillary mostly yellow; caudal deep yellow, its 

 edge reddish; dorsal chiefly yellow; anal faintly yellow. 



GENUS RHOMBOPLITES GILL 



This genus differs from Littianus chiefly in cranial characters and 

 in the extension of the villiform teeth over the pterygoid and hyoid 

 bones. The form of the patch of vomerine teeth is also somewhat 

 peculiar. The genus contains but a single species, R. auronibcns, the 

 cagon de lo alto of our Spanish fishermen. It is found from Rio 

 Janeiro northward through the West Indies to the Carolina coast, 





being probably most abundant about Cuba and on the Snapper Banks 

 off the west coast of Florida. It is, however, nowhere very common, 

 but is a good food-fish. Colour in life, vermilion above, paler below, 

 faint brown lines running obliquely downward and forward, following 

 the rows of scales; side with narrow sinuous streaks of golden 

 yellow, some of them longitudinal, others oblique; dorsal rosy, its 



417 



