37. MESOPKION. 199 



margin of the orbit. Praeopereulum with a distinct notch, inter- 

 opei-culura with a slight and flat knob. The. fourth and fifth dorsal 

 spines longest, longer than the soft rays. Caudalis shghtly emargi- 

 nate ; pectoral fin extending to the origin of the anal fin. Coloration 

 uniform, without black blotch ; caudalis with a narrow black margin, 

 Caribbean Sea. 



«, h. Adult : skins. Jamaica. From Dr. Parneirs Collection. 



c. Half-grown : skin. Jamaica. From Dr. Parneirs Collection. 



d. Fine specimen. South America. Presented by Sir 11, Schomburgk, 



bb. Ground-colour red. 



18. Mesoprion borensis. 



Diacope borensis, Cuv. 8f Val. ii. p. 430 (not Richards.). 

 tiea, Less. Voy. Dup. p. 231. pi. 23 (opercles bad). 



14 9 



The height of the body is 2-| in the total length, the length of the 

 head 3i ; the upper profile of the snout very slightly concave. Notch 

 of praeopereulum and knob of interoperculum very conspicuous. 

 Caudalis slightly notched ; pectorals reaching to the front end of the 

 anal. Red : the dorsal and caudal fins vdih a violet shade. {Less.) 



Island of.Borabora. 



This species belongs perhaps to the genus Gcnyorocje ; according to 

 the figure quoted, the third anal spine is much longer than the second, 



19. Mesoprion erythrinus. 



Diacope erythrina, Riipp. N. W. Fische, p. 92. t. 23. f. 3. 



D '" A ^ 

 U. -. A.-. 



The height of the body is one-third of the total length, the length 

 of the head one-fourth ; the outline of the forehead gibbous, promi- 

 nent above that of the snout. Praeopereulum with a very sUght 

 notch, interoperculum without knob. Lower jaw longest. Can dabs 

 truncated, pectoral not quite reaching to the anal fin. Uniform red. 

 {Riipp.) 



According to the figure given by Dr. Riippell, this species would 

 be easily distinguished by the very small size of the eye, its diameter 

 being about one -seventh of the length of the head ; but this is not 

 mentioned in the description. 



Red Sea. 



20. Mesoprion rangus. 



Rangoo, Russell, pi. 94. 



Mesoprion rangus, Cuv. i^ Val. ii. p. 482 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 14. 



^- 7JT5- ^' ¥• 

 The height of the body is 3-1- in the total length, and equal to the 



