198 PEECID^. 



its length and in the open notch above the angle ; the inferior 

 limb is entire. Suprascapula obtusely denticulated. The glosso- 

 hyal is oblong, and covered with fine villiform teeth ; the urohyal 

 terminates posteriorly in two elongate points, with a semicirciilar 

 notch between. 



There are ten abdominal and fourteen caudal vertebnc, the length 

 of the former portion of the column being to that of the caudal as 

 1 : 1-4. The first interhasmal spine is strong, dagger- shaped, with a 

 longitudinal groove on each side, and equal to the length of the 

 second vertebra to the eighth. 



16. Mesoprion buccanella. 



Mesoprion buccanella, Cuv. (§• Val. li. p. 455 ; Guichen. in liavum de 

 la Sayra, Hist. Cuba, Poiss, p. 23. 



D.j;. A.}. L. lat. 54. L. transv. 8/17. 



The height of the body is 3i in the total length, and nearly equal 

 to the length of the head ; the diameter of the eye is one-fourth of 

 the latter, and ly in the length of the snout ; the upper profile of 

 the head oblique, straight, the lower nearly horizontal. Suprasca- 

 pula and pneoperculum serrated, the latter with a slight notch ; knob 

 of interoperculum flat, conspicuous. Caudalis emarginate, pectorals 

 just reaching the anal. The fourth and fifth dorsal spines longest ; 

 the second and third of the anal fin nearly equal in length. Uniform 

 yellowish oUve (in a dried state), with indistinct oblique streaks 

 above the lateral line, and with longitudinal ones beneath ; base of 

 the pectoral deep black. 



Caribbean Sea. 



a. Fine specimen. Cuba. From the Collection of the Zoological 

 Society. 



h-e. Adult : skins. Jamaica. From Dr. ParncU's Collection. 



/, rj. Adult : stuffed. West Indies. From Mr. Scrivener's Collection. 



h. Half-grown ; stuffed. West Indies. From Mr. Scrivener's Col- 

 lection. 



i. Adult: stuffed. America. 



17. Mesoprion aya. 



Acaraaya, Margrave, pp. 107, 168. 



Bodianus aya, HI t. 227 ; Lacep. iv. pp. 286, 287. 



ruber, Bl. f^chn. p. 330. 



Mesoprion aya, Ciw. ^ Val. ii. p. 457 ; Guichen. in Ramon de la Sagra, 

 Hist. Cuba, I'oiss. p. 24. 



D. JJ. A. |. L. lat. 65. L. transv. 10/22. 



The length of the head is nearly equal to the height of the body, 

 and 3 'I in the total ; the diameter of the eye is 41 or 4^ in the length 

 of the head, and If in that of the snout. Jaws equal in front ; tlie 

 !q)pcr maxillary reaches slightly beyond the vertical from the front 



