91. SCI^NID^ SCI^XA. 569 



profile very steep, its curve uneven; ventral outline little curved. 



Mouth moderate, maxillary scarcely reaching middle of orbit. Scales 



large, those on breast much smaller. Fins large, pectorals rea(;hing 



beyond tips of veiitrals, nearly to vent; second anal spine more than 



half length of head. Head above scaly, except a triangular space on 



snout. Head 3|^ in length; depth 2 J. D. X, I, 20; A. If, 6; Lat. 1. 50. 



Cape Cod to West Indies; abundant southward. 



{Labrus cromis Linu. Syst. Nat.; Guutlier, ii, 270; Holbrook, Icli. S. Car. 1860, 114: 

 Pogonias fasciatus Holbrook, Ich. S. Car. 18o0, 119: I'ogonias fuHciatus Guuther, ii, 270.) 



296.— SCLEiVA Linnaeus. 

 (Johnius Blocli: Corvina C. »fc V. : Pseudoscicena Bleeker.) 

 (Artedi; Linureus, Syst. Nat.: type Scicena umhra L.) 



Body elongate, compressed, not much elevated. Head rather long. 

 Mouth moderate or rather large, the lower jaw included. Teeth in both 

 jaws mostly in villiform bands, the outer row often enlarged; lower 

 pharyngeals separate, their teeth conic or paved. Chin with pores; no 

 barbels. Preopercle with its bony posterior edge serrated, or else with 

 a membranaceous margin. Scales moderate, in oblique series. Dorsal 

 fins connected, the spines rather strong. Anal spines 2, the second 

 varying in size. In this genus and most of the other Scicenince the 

 muzzle above the premaxillaries is provided with a number of pores, and 

 near the base of the premaxillary 2 or 4 small dermal ilaps are present; 

 in all these species the preorbital is very wide, and often gibbons. 

 Species numerous, in all warm seas. Many attempts have been made 

 to subdivide this genus, but none of the current genera form definable 

 natural groups, when foreign species are taken into account. {(T/.tar/a, 

 Sciaina, from (rxtdj shade, the classical name of Scicena aquila'.) 



a. Teetli in both jaws in single series or very narrow bands. 



h. Head dejjressed, very broad between the eyes. (StelUferus* Stark.) 



895. S. stcllifcra (Bloch) J. & G. 



Pale above, with purplish reflections, almost translucent ; below sil- 

 very; everywhere finely punctulate ; fins j^cllo wish, the tips of dorsal 

 and pectoral blackish. Body oblong, not much elevated, little com- 

 pressed ; the tail slender ; head short; snout blunt; eye very small, 

 5 in head; i^rotile depressed above the eyes; the interorbital space flat- 

 tish, extremely broad ; a slight ridge above each orbit, these meeting 



* Stark, Elements Nat. Hist, i, 459, 1828 : type Bodianua atellifer Bloch. 



