2J.S M.AlllSHKS (H1-:TEKOSOMATAi 



Depth of body ij to a little more than twice in the length, length of head 3f to 

 ^J. Anterior profile of head oblique ; a slight notch above and in front of lower eye. 

 Diameter of eye 5 to 6 in length of head ; interorbital width i J to 2 J times diameter 

 of eye, somewhat wider in the male than in the female ; anterior edge of upper eye 

 above posterior edge of lower ; eyes in the male each with a fringe of dermal appen- 

 dages. Male with a strong spine on the snout, represented in the female by a blunt 

 knob. Maxillary extending to below anterior edge of eye or a little beyond, length 

 2* to 3 in that of head. 8 to 10 short gill-rakers on lower part of anterior arch. Scales 

 ctenoid on ocular side, cycloid on blind side ; 86 to 92 in lateral line. Dorsal 93-99. 

 .Anal 71-76. f'ectoral of ocular side with ii or 12 rays ; upper rays filamentous and 

 reaching base of caudal in the mature male, about as long as head in the female. 

 Caudal rounded or fjluntly pointed. Greyish or brownish ; body with numerous 

 rings, curved spots and small dots of sky blue, mo.stly margined with darker, which 

 are largest near the middle of the side ; two or three obscure dark blotches on straight 

 part of lateral line ; head and median fins with sharply-defined curved or rounded 

 blue spots, mostly margined with darker ; pectoral with narrow dark cross-bars. 



Type. — Xot traced. 



Distribution. — Atlantic coast of America, from Florida to Fernando Noronha. 



Specimens E.xamined : 



Bcrniud.i';. Jones. 



Also z from the West Indies (Leiden Mus.). 



This species attains a length of about 18 inches. 



There can be no doubt that Platotichlhys chartes is a post-lar\al Bothus. and it is 

 probably the young of this species. .\ figure of the type is included here (.\.M.N.H. 

 No. 7388). 



5. BOJHfS MACULIFERUS ([Poey ''] Jordan and Goss). 



:- PlcuronccUs maadt/cru^, Pocv, 1856-8, Mem. H. N. Cuba, 11, p. 316. 



:■ Rhomboidichlhys macuhfcrus, Poey, 1868, Repert. Fis.-Xat. Cuba, il, p. 408 ; Poey, 1875, .\nal. Soc. 



Espan. Hist. N'at., v, p. 181. 

 Platophrys elUptrctn (imn Poev), Jordan, 1887, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., ix, (1886), p. 51. 

 Platophrvs maculifcr, Jordan and Goss, i.S8.j, Rep. U.S. Com. Fish., xiv, (1886), p. 267 ; Jordan and 



Evcrmann, 1S98, Hull. U.S. Xat. Mus., xlvii (3), p. 2664. 

 Khomboidichthys macuUfer, Metzelaar, lyiq, Trop. Atlant. Vissch., p. 130, fig. 37. 

 Plalophrys nmculiferus. Meek and Hildi-liran.l, i.,.-.s, Field Mus. Pub. Chicago, Zool. Scr., xv, 



No. 249, p. 977. 

 Symboulichlhys nuuultfcr. Chabanaud, I'uV, Pull. S..c. zool. Fr.. lij, p. 76, figs. 2-4. 



Depth of body ij to li in the length, length of head 3 J to 3|. Upper profile of 

 head convex, scarcely notched in front of eyes. Diameter of eye 4j to 5 m length 

 of head ; interorbital space more or less similar in both sexes, width \ to more than 

 once diameter of eye (in mature and half-grown specimens) ; anterior edge of upper 

 eye above middle or posterior ^ of lower. Mature male with a strong spine on end 

 of snout, a smaller one more posteriorly, and some more spines on the orbital margins. 

 Maxillary extending to below anterior part of eye, length 3 or nearly 3 in that of head. 

 -\n inner regular series of teeth directed somewhat inwards, and i, 2 or (in large 



