DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DIsTHIBUTIOX. 241 



DenUx macrophihahnus, Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vi, 227.— GriCHENOT, Kxplor. Sci. 

 Alger. Poiss., 51.— Valenc:ienne.s, in Webb & Berthelot, 37.— Bonapahte, Catalogo, t.").— GirNTiiEU, 

 Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., l, 370.— Capello, Cat. Pais. Portugal, 17.— Canestkixi, Fauna Italica, 83.— 

 MOREAU, Hist. Nat. Poiss. France, ill, 59.— Vaillant, Esped. Sci. Travailleur et Tali.sman, 358. 



A Dcntex, with the height of its body a little le.ss than leugtli of liead, and included 3h 

 times in the total length. Eye large, its diameter contained three times in the length of 

 the head, and greater than the distance between the eyes. Second anal spine longer and 

 thicker than the third. Scales abont 58 to (iO in the lateral line; (i above and 13 below. 



Radial formula: D. xii, 9-10; A. iii, 7-8. 



Color, uniform red. 



The French explorers obtained in all 11 specimens of this species iu considerable depths 

 of water; 6 from the Banc d'Argnin, 140-235 meters; 4 off the coast of Soudan, 130-410 

 meters, and 1 off the coast of Morocco in 120 meters. TLe identification of tliese specimens 

 with the Mediterranean form is accepted on the authority of Vaillant, although the material 

 for the study of I), macrophtliulmun is not very ample. 



Family PRI ACANTHID^E. 



Priacanthina, GOnther, Cat. Fish, lirit. Mus., i, 1859, 215, 221. 



Priacanthidif, GiLL, Arr. Families Fishes, 1872, ii (No. 112.) — Joriian and Gilbert. Bull, xvi, U. s. Nat. 

 Mus., 544. 



Body oblong or ovate, comiiressed, covered with scales. Mouth large, oblique, lower 

 jaw prominent. Teeth villiformon jaw.s, vomer, and palatines. Eye very large. Preojier- 

 cles less serrated, with one or more spines at angle; opercula short, with two or three points 

 behind. Scales firm and rough, covering all parts of the body and head. Gill membranes 

 separate, free from the isthmus. Pseudobranchiie large. Gills 4, a slit behind the fourth. 

 Gill-rakers long. Branchiostegals 6. Lateral line continuous. First dorsal composed of 

 about 10 spines, depressible in groove; anal with 3 spines; soft part long, simihir to soft 

 dorsal; veutrals thoracic, i, 5; pectorals small, rounded; caudal fln truncate or lunate. 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 



A. Scales small. Body rather elongate, its depth less th.-m half its length Priacanthcs 



B. Scales large. Body rather short, its dejith more than halt its length 1'seuiiopkl\canthus 



PRIACANTHUS, Cuvier and Valenciennes. 



Priacinilliim, CuviER and Valenciennes. Hist. Nat. Poiss., iii, 90. — Gi'^MTiiEu, Cat. Fish. Urit. JIus., i, 215. — 

 Jordan and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, U. S. Nat. Mus., 541. 



Priacauthids with l)ody somewhat elongate, compressed, the height being less than half 

 the length. Scales small. Other characters included in the lamily diagnosis. 



PRIACANTHUS CATALUFA, Poey. 



Priaeanthita iiiacrnpththnliiiiis, Ccvier and Valenciennes, Hi.st. Nat. Poiss., in, 95 (not Anihuia man-i>}>Uthid- 

 mus, Blocii). — GfNTHER, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus..i, 215.— Jordan and Gii.heut. Bull, xvi, U. .S Nat. Mus. 

 Priacanthiis ciitnliifn, Poev, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1863. 182 (Parras •' ('atalnfu"). 

 Priacantliiis areiudiis, J<iI!I)an and Gilbert, op. (it., 971 (not /'. urenatiix, Crv. and X'al.). 



Body oblong, compressed, and little elevated. Its height three eighths its length. Head 

 short, its length contained 3J times in that of l)ody. Gape of mouth subvertical, nia.xillary 

 passing front of eye. Diameter of orbit about one-half length of head and more than (> times 

 width of preorbital. Ventrals long, reaching front of anal ; jn'ctorals small, not longer than 

 eje. Lateral line with 85 scales, following tlie curve of the back. 



Radial formula: D. x, 14; A. iii, 15. 



Color, iiniforin red, fins edged with dusky. 



A specimen was obtained by the Blah' at station ccxxxv, off Havana, in 243 fathoms. 

 This species is a member of the West Indian fauna. It is possible that it was taken nearer 

 the .surface than the records would indicate. 

 1986S— No. 2 16 



