37. MESOPEION. 203 



equal size. The band of the vomerine teeth also is anchor-shaped, 

 hut the peduncle is much shorter, occupying the anterior third only 

 of the bone. The palatine band tapers anteriorly and posteriorly. 

 The grooves and ridges between the orbits are more developed, and 

 the occipital crest reaches nearly to the level of the anterior margin 

 of the eye. The outer crest, from the orbit to the praeoperculum, is 

 transformed into a muciferous channel. The opercvilum has a slight 

 notch posteriorly, but no prominent point. The posterior edge of 

 the pharyngo-branchials is fringed and denticulated, which peculiarity 

 is not found in 31. griseus. The basal portion of the skull is swollen 

 and roimded, as in many Pristipomatklce and Scicenidce, whilst that 

 part is rather compressed in M. griseus. 



There are ten abdominal and fourteen caudal vertebrae, the length 

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

 1 : 1-54. The first interhsemal spine is of moderate strength, and 

 equal to the length of the first seven vertebrae together. 



26. Mesoprion mahogoni. 

 Cuv. ^ Val ii. p. 447. 



D. ^. A. A. 



12 8 



The length of the head is one-third of the total, the diameter of 

 the eye 3^ in the length of the head ; the lower profile of the muzzle 

 as much bent upwards as the upper is downwards, Caudalis 

 notched. Uniform brown, with a large black lateral blotch. {Cuv.) 



Sea of Martinique. 



27. Mesoprion vivanus. 

 ? Cuv. 8f Val. ii. p. 154 (bad description). 



D. 1^. A. |. L. lat. 60. L. transv. 10/20. 



The height of the body equals the length of the head, and is 3|- 

 in the total. The diameter of the eye is one-sixth (in young indi- 

 viduals one-fifth) of the length of the head, and 2i (in young 1|) in 

 that of the snout. The upper maxillary reaches to the vertical from 

 the anterior margin of the orbit. Praeoperculum with an indistinct 

 notch ; interoperculum without knob. The third, fourth, and fifth 

 dorsal spines longest, very much shorter than the longest dorsal and 

 anal rays ; the soft dorsal and anal fins elevated ; caudal emarginate ; 

 pectoral reaching to the anal fin. Coloration uniform, in young 

 individuals with some indistinct cross-bars; no black spot at the 

 base of the pectoral ; a black blotch on the lateral line. 



Atlantic coasts of Tropical America. 



a. 16" long : skin. Jamaica. From Dr. ParneU's Collection. 

 h. Adult : skin. Jamaica. From Dr. Pamell's Collection. 



c. Half-gro\sTi. Bahia. Purchased of M. Parzudaki. 



d. Half-grown. Bahia. Purchased of M. Parzudaki. 



