140 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES XaTIONAL MUSEUM 



58. Trisotropis falcatus Poey. — Scamp. 



The United States ISTational Museum received, March 24, 1879, from 

 Mr. Silas Stearus, of Peusacola, Fla., a fresh individual, No. 22,236, of a 

 species of Trisotrojns, called " Scamp " by the fishermen. The weight of 

 the fish is 7i pounds. 



Mr. StearnS'S collecting number is 117. He states that it was captured 

 in deep water, and is abundant " in spots." He has seen individuals 

 three times as large as the present one. 



Diagnosis. — A Trisotropis with the body moderately compressed, its 

 greatest depth nearly equal to ^ of its length without caudal, and exactly 

 equal to twice the length of the pectoral ; the length of the head equal 

 to f of the greatest depth of body, and to 4 times the length of the 

 snout ; the lower jaw projecting beyond the upper for a distance which 

 equals ^ of the long diameter of the eye ; the 11th ray of the soft dorsal, 

 the 5th and Cth rays of the anal, the external and 5 of the internal caudal 

 rays produced ; the vent in the vertical from the 10th dorsal spine ; the 

 pectoral reaching the vertical let fall from the 7th dorsal spine; the 

 ventrals as long as the pectorals, and reaching to the vertical let fall 

 from the 8th dorsal spine ; the maxilla extending to and the mandible 

 beyond the vertical through the posterior margin of the orbit ; the dis- 

 tance of the eye from the upper profile of the head equal to ^ of its short 

 diameter ; the long diameter of the eye contained twice in the length of 

 the snout, and 9i times in the length of the head ; the Gth dorsal spine 

 longest, and equal to the distance from the border of the preoperculum 

 to the end of the opercular flap ; the 1st dorsal spine § as long as the last 

 and half as long as the 3d and 4th ; the longest (11th) ray of the soft dor- 

 sal equal to the 1st ray of the anal ; the longest (oth) anal ray slightly 

 exceeding the length of the pectoral and ventral ; 3 rays in the u^jper 

 half, and 2 in the lower half of the caudal produced, the longest of these 

 extending beyond the general outline of the rays for a distance equal to 

 the 3d anal spine; the external caudal rays nearly twice as long as the 

 middle rays ; the 1st dorsal consisting of 11 spines, the 2d dorsal of 17 

 rays ; the anal having 3 spines and 11 rays; the caudal, about 20 rays ; 

 the pectoral, 1 undivided ray ; the ventral, 1 spine and 5 rays ; the 

 number of rows of scales between the upper angle of the operculum and 

 the origin of the middle caudal rays 120; about 25 scales in a trans- 

 verse series from the beginning of the spinous dorsal to the lateral line, 

 and about 43 from thence to the lower profile of the body ; the posterior 

 nostril three times as long and twice as wide as the anterior, and scarcely 

 its own length from the eye ; the 3 oi^ercular spines broad, flat and cleft 

 at the free ends. 



Teeth : Vomerines brush-like, in an angular patch ; palatines similar 

 and in a single series ; intermaxillary teeth in a single series, with a 

 short band at the symphysis; 4 canines; mandibulary teeth in two 

 series ; several canines at the symphysis. 



