The Grouper Family 287 



beyond the eye; lower jaw not strongly projecting; teeth in 

 narrow bands, the depressible teeth of the inner series very long 

 and slender, those of the lower jaw and front of upper espe- 

 cially enlarged, longer than the small, subequal canines ; pre- 

 opercle convex, very weakly serrate, its posterior angle obliquely 

 subtruncate, without salient angle or distinct emargination ; 

 opercle with three distinct spines ; scales rather large, and 

 mostly strongly ctenoid; dorsal fin single, its spines rather 

 slender and pungent ; anal fin rounded ; pectorals long ; caudal 

 fin very convex. 



Bodiamis fulvus. The Nigger-fish. Body oblong, moderately com- 

 pressed; head 2f; depth 3; eye 5; scales 9-100-33; D. IX, 

 14 to 16; A. Ill, 8 or 9 ; head rather pointed, with curved pro- 

 file ; mouth moderate, the maxillary reaching beyond the eye ; 

 lower jaw strongly projecting; teeth in narrow bands, rather 

 large, the depressible teeth rather small, canines small, sub- 

 equal ; preopercle with weak serrations, its outline convex, with 

 a shallow emargination ; opercle with three distinct spines ; 

 dorsal fin single, with slender and pungent spines ; scales rather 

 large, mostly strongly ctenoid ; caudal fin truncate, its angles 

 slightly rounded ; pectorals long ; ventrals short. 



Diplectntm fonnosum. The Sand-fish. Body elongate, the profile 

 strongly arched above the eyes; head 3; depth 3^; eye 5; 

 scales 9-85-22 ; mouth large, maxillary reaching middle of eye ; 

 lower jaw slightly projecting; canine teeth small; preopercle 

 finely serrate at upper margin ; preopercle with two clusters of 

 divergent spines ; opercular flap short and sharp ; top of cranium 

 smooth and very convex ; 1 1 rows of scales on cheeks ; fins, 

 except caudal, scaleless ; 15 scales before dorsal; dorsal fin 

 single, with low spines, the first three graduated ; caudal deeply 

 lunate, the upper lobe the longest, sometimes ending in a long 

 filament. 



THE GAG 

 (^Mycteroperca microlepis') 



The gag is one of the series of fishes known 

 as groupers in Florida, of which there are quite 



