37. MESOPRION. 203 



equal size. The baud of the vomerine teeth also i.s ainlior-shaped, 

 but the i)eduncle is much shorter, occupyiuf; the anterior third only 

 of the l)one. The palatine band tapers anteriorly and posteriorly. 

 The grooves and ridges between tlie orbits are more developed, and 

 the occipital crest reaches nearly to the level of the anterior margin 

 of the eye. The outer crest, from the orbit to the i)i-a3opercidiim, is 

 transformed into a mnciferoiis channel. The operculum has a slight 

 notch posteriorly, but no prominent point. The posterior edge of 

 tlie i)haiyngo-branchials is fringed and denticulated, which peculiarity 

 is not found in M. grlscus. The basal portion of the skull is swollen 

 and roimdcd, as in many Pvistipomatidce and Scicenidce, whilst that 

 part is rather compressed in M. griseus. 



There are ten abdominal and foiu'tcen caudal vertebrae, the length 

 of the former portion of the column being to that of the caudal as 

 1 : 1 -54. The first interhajmal spine is of moderate strength, and 

 equal to the length of the first seven vertebrae together. 



26. Mesoprion mahogoni. 

 Cuv. S,- Val. ii. p. 447. 



D. i^. A. A 



12 8 



The length of the head is one-third of the total, the diameter of 

 the eye 3i in the length of the head ; the lower profile of the muzzle 

 nnich bent upwards as the upper is downwards. Caudalis 

 lotched. Uniform brown, with a large black lateral blotch. {Cuv.) 



Sea of Martinique. 



27. Mesoprion vivanus. 



? Cm\ ^- Val. ii. p. 154 (bad description). 



D. 1^. A. |. L. lat. 60. L. transv. 10/20. 



The height of the body equals the length of the head, and is 3|- 

 the total. The diameter of the eye is one-sixth (in young indi- 

 [viduals one-fifth) of the length of the head, and 21 (in young 1^) in 

 [that of the snout. The upper maxiUaiy reaches to the vertical from 

 [the anterior margin of the orbit. Prteoperculiun with an indistinct 

 [notch ; interoperculum without knob. The third, fourth, and fifth 

 [dorsal spines longest, very much shorter than the longest dorsal and 

 Banal rays ; the soft dorsal and anal fins elevated ; caudal cmarginate ; 

 [pectoral reaching to the anal fin. Coloration imifoim, in young 

 [individuals with some indistinct cross-bars; no black spot at the 

 [ base of the pectoral ; a black blotch on the lateral line. 

 Atlantic coasts of Tropical iVniorica. 



\a. 10" long: skin. Jamaica. From Dr. Pai'neU's Collection. 

 1 6. Adult: skin. Jamaica. From Dr. Parnell's Collection. 



IIalf-gro^^^a. Bahia. Purchased of II. Parzudaki. 

 , d. Half-grown. Bahia. Piu'chased of M. Parzudaki. 



