PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 231 



Anterior part of the fin with a distinct scaly basal sheath, which be- 

 comes obsolete a;t about the 14th ray. Anal tin similar to soft dorsal, a 

 little shorter and lower, its scaly sheath more developed; free anal 

 spines moderate. Caudal fin widely forked, its lobes subeqnal, L^ in 

 head ; distance from tip to tip more than the length of either lobe. 

 Pectorals long and falcate, their tips reaching sixth anal ray, longer 

 than head, and a trifle less than greatest depth of body. Ventrals 

 short, one-third length of i^ectorals. 



Coloration in spirits olivaceous; dark above; pale below, but nowhere 

 silvery ; top of head clear olivaceous ; opercular spot obsolete ; lower 

 jaw soiled golden; no i^ectoral spot; base of pectoral somewhat dusky; 

 small irregular dark brown spots, smaller than the pupil and irregular 

 in size, scattered without order over the body, rather most numerous 

 about the pectorals. Caudal fin dusky, especially on its x)osterior edge; 

 dorsal and anal dusky, their lobes black; ventrals dusky at tip; pec- 

 torals olivaceous. 



Head 3J in length (without caudal); greatest depth, 2|; pectoral, 2f; 

 length of type, 20 inches. 



Fin rays: D. VIII-I, 22. A., II-I, 10. 



A single example of this species was taken by Lieutenant Xichols, 

 with a hook, in Braithwaite Bay, Socorro Island, off the west coast of 

 Mexico. It agrees very closely with the description and figure of 

 Caranx mcJampygus given bj^ Giinther (Fische Sudsee ii, 133, taf. 86.) 

 12. Platyglossus nicholsi sp. nov. (Xo. 28,218 IT. S. K M.) 



A species of the ordinary type, without sharp markings of any kind. 

 Body rather deep; the profile steep, evenly curved; the snout moder- 

 ately pointed. Teeth strong, the posterior canines especially so. Head 

 entirely naked ; scales on breast not much reduced. Dorsal spines very 

 slender, flexible. Pectoral fin If in length of head, reaching as far as 

 the slender tips of the ventrals. Caudal fin rounded, its angles not at 

 all produced. 



Coloration in spirits, plain olivaceous above, sides brownish, belly 

 paler; an obscure dusky bar across middle of sjiinous dorsal and ex- 

 tending down the sides ; some of the scales of back with dark lines. 

 Soft dorsal and anal fins with not very numerous small, round dark 

 spots, especially jiosteriorly ; otherwise plain; spinous dorsal dusky. 

 The coloration may have been bright in life, but there could never have 

 been any sharp markings. 



Head U in length ; depth 3^. 



I). IX, 12. A. Ill, 11. Scales 2-2S-8. 



This species is known to us from a single example, lOJ inches long, 

 taken by Lieutenant Nichols at Braithwaite Bay, Socorro Island. It is 

 readily distinguished from the only two members of the genus thus 

 far discovered on the western coast of tropical Araeiica, P. dispilus 

 Giinther, and P. seniicinctns (Ayres). It is impossible, from descrij)- 

 tions alone, to compare it satisfactorily with the numerous West Indian 



