37. MESOPRION. 195 



Mesoprion linea, Cuv. 8f Val. ii. p. 468. 



jocu, Cuv. Sf Val. ii. p. 466. 



goreensis, Cuv. ^- Val. vi. p. 540. 



D. j^y A. |. L. lat. 40-45. L. transv. ^^. Vert. 10/14. 



The height of the body is 3^ to 3f in the total length, and equal 

 to the length of the head ; the diameter of the eye is about 4^ in 

 the latter, and (in adult specimens) one-half the length of the 

 snout ; jaws equal. Praeoperculum very slightly emarginate at its 

 posterior Kmb, interoperculmn without knob. CaudaUs slightly 

 emarginate ; pectorals not reaching to the origin of the anal ; canines 

 very large. OHve (in spirits), each scale with a darker base ; a bluish- 

 white, darker-edged line from the pra^orbital below the eye across the 

 opercles ; the line is sometimes interrupted, forming a series of small 

 spots, sometimes not visible. Young and half-grown specimens often 

 with alternating lighter and darker cross-bars, or with the dorsal 

 and caudal fins black-edged/and the former with a series of irregular 

 dark spots. 



Atlantic Coasts of Tropical America ; West Coast of Africa. 



a. Large specimen. "West Indies. Purchased of Mr. Frank. 



b-d. Half-grown. West Indies. 



e. Half-grown. West Indies. Purchased of Mr. Brandt. 



f-h. Half-grown. West Indies. 



i, Tc. Adiilt : stuffed. West Indies. Purchased of Mr. Scrivener. 



I. Half-grown : stuffed. West Indies. Purchased of Mr. Scrivener. 



m. Fine specimen, Cuba. From the Collection of the Zoological 



Society. 

 n. Adult : skeleton. Cuba. From the CoUeetion of the Zoological 



Society. 

 0. Adult : stuffed. Cuba. From the CoUeetion of the Zoological 



Society. 

 p-i. Adidt and half-grown : skins. Jamaica. From Dr. Pamell's 



Collection. 

 u. Half-grown : skin. Jamaica. Purchased of Mr. Cuming. 

 V. Adult. South America. Presented by Sir R. Schombm-gk. 

 w. Half-grown. British Guiana. Presented by Sir B. Schomburgk. 

 X, y. Adult ; not good state. Puerto Cabello. Purchased of Mr, 



Brandt, 

 z. Adult. From the Haslar Collection. 

 a, (o. Adult : stuffed. 



In specimens which have not attained to maturity, the soft portion 

 of the dorsal and anal fins is more elevated. I give the description 

 of specimen w. 



Description of the specimen. — The body is compressed and rather 

 short, the distance between the dorsal and caudal fins beiig 2^ in 

 the length of the head. The head is compressed ; the interspace be- 

 tween the eyes not broader than the vertical diameter of the eye. 

 The cleft of the mouth is nearly horizontal, and rather wide ; the 

 upper maxillary reaches somewhat beyond the vertical, from the an- 



o2 



