8. HOLOCENTEUM. 49 



inches, lines. 



Length of the head 2 2 



Interspace between the eyes 6 



Length of the snout 8 



of the pi-aeopcrcular spine 4^ 



of the third dorsal spine 1 0^ 



of the eleventh dorsal spine 3 



■ — of the third dorsal ra^"^ 1 1^ 



of the third anal spine 1 4\ 



of the fourth anal spine 11 



of the first anal ray 1 



25. Holoceutmm spinosum. 



Comiger spinosus, Agass. in Spix, Pise' Bras. p. 121. taf. 75. 

 Holocentrum cornigeriim, Cuv. 8r Val, viii. p. 481. 



D. 12 I 15. A.± 



The height of the body is 2^ in the total length. Infraorbital 

 arch with four very strong spines, curved and dii-ected backwards, 

 longer than those of the pra^operculum the anterior is shortest, 

 one-third only of the length of the second, the second half the size 

 of the third and fourth ; the posterior suborbital bones strongly 

 denticulated. Operculum and limbp and scales of praeoperculum 

 covered with acute spines ; praeoperculum with two strong spines 

 at the angle, the upper of which is the longer ; operculum with two 

 spines of equal size, but shorter than those of the former. 



Coast of Brazil. 



26. Holocentrum retrospinis. 



Holocentrum reti'ospinis, Guichen. Poiss. in Ramon de la Sagra, Hist, 

 de rue de Cuba, p. 35. pi. 1. f. 3. 



D. 12 I 14. A. ^. 



The height of the body is 2^ in the total length, the length of the 

 head 2|. The infraorbital arch is armed beneath with three long 

 spines, curved and directed forwards ; the spines of the praeorbital 

 and of the posterior part of the infraorbital arch with smaller 

 spinous teeth. Both limbs of the prseoperculum denticulated, with 

 r rather strong flat spine ; operculum and suboperculum armed with 

 spinous teeth, the former ^^dth two long spines, the lower of which 

 is the stronger. Spines of the fins rather slender ; the soft portions 

 of the dorsal and anal fins rounded, and as high as the spinous. 

 Caudalis forked ; scales deeply serrated. Uniform red. 



Cuba. 



This fish has a remarkable similarity to the preceding species, from 

 the development of the armature of the head ; but the spiues of the 

 infraorbital have an opposite direction. Giiichenot describes the sub- 

 operculum as entire, and not denticulated ; but it is evident from 



E 



