w 



37. MESOPUION. 195 



Mesoprioii linea, Cur. Sf VaL ii. p. 4G8. 



joeu, Cuv. ^ VaL ii. p. 466. 



gorcen.sis, Cur. Sf Jul. vi. p. 540. 



^- TTTTT,- A. 4. L. lat. 40-45. L. transv. ^^ Vert. 10/14. 



The height of the body is 3 1 to 3 j in the total length, and equal 

 to the length of the head ; the diameter of the eye iw about 41 in 

 the latter, and (lii adult specimens) one-half the length of the 

 snout ; jaws equal. Prajoperculum very sHghtly emarginate at its 

 posterior limb, intcroperculum without knob. Caudalis slightly 

 emarginate ; pectorals not reacliing to the origin of the anal ; canines 

 veiy large. Olive (in spirits), each scale with a darker base ; a bluish- 

 white, darker-edged line from the pra3orbital below the eye across the 

 opercles ; the line is sometimes internipted, forming a series of small 

 spots, sometimes not visible. Young and half-grown specimens often 

 with alternating lighter and darker cross-bars, or with the dorsal 

 and caudal fins black-edged, and the former with a series of irreg-ular 

 dark spots. 



Atlantic Coasts of Tropical America ; West Coast of Africa. 



a. l^arge specimen. West Indies. Purchased of Mr. Frank. 



b~(L Half-grown. West Indies. 



e. Half-gro-^\Ti. West Indies. Purchased of Mr. Brandt. 



f-h. Half- grown. West Indies. 



i, k. Adult : stuffed. West Indies. Purchased of Mr. Scrivener. 



/. Half-grown : stuffed. West Indies. Purchased of Mr. Scrivener. 



m. Fine specimen. Cuba. From the Collection of the Zoological 



Society. 

 n. Adult : skeleton. Cuba. From the Collection of the Zoological 



Society. 

 0. Adult : stuffed. Cuba. From the Collection of the Zoological 



Society. 

 p-t. Adult and half-grown : skins. Jamaica. From Dr. PameU's 



Collection. 

 M. Half-grown : skin. Jamaica. Purchased of Mr. Cuming. 

 V. Adult. South America. Presented by Sii' II. Schombiu'gk. 

 w. Half-grown. British Guiana. Presented by Sir R. Schomburgk. 

 X, y. Adult : not good state. Puerto Cabello. Purchased of Mr. 



Brandt, 

 r. Adult. From the Haslar Collection. 

 a, /3. Adult : stuffed. 



In specimens which have not attained to maturity, the soft portion 

 of the dorsal and anal fins is more elevated. I give the description 

 of specimen iv. 



Description of the specimen. — The body is compressed and rather 

 short, the distance between the dorsal and caudal fins being 2i in 

 the length of the head. The head is compressed ; the interspace be- 

 tween the eyes not broader than the vertical diameter of the eye. 

 The (left of the mouth is nearly horizontal, and ratlier wide ; the 

 upper maxiUaiy reaches somewhat beyond the vertical, from the an- 



o2 



