314 PEISTIPOMATID^. 



in the length of the head. Caudal fin deeply forked ; the second 

 anal spine stronger, but scarcely longer than the third, and much 

 shorter than the fourth of the dorsal. Scales of the pectoral region 

 not larger than the others. Coloration uniform (in spirits), without 

 a black spot behind the angle of the pra^operciilum. 

 Atlantic coasts of Tropical America ; S. Carolina. 



a. Adult. "West Indies. 



b. Adult : stuffed. West Indies. 



c-h. Adult : skins. Jamaica. From Dr. Parnell's Collection. 

 /. Adult: skin. Trinidad. Presented by J. B. Richardson, Esq. 

 k. Adult : stuffed : not good state. Bahia. 



12. Hsemulon chrysargyreum. (Plate XVI, fig. B.) 

 D. 11 I ^. A. |-. L. lat. 50. L. transv. 9/12. 



The height of the body is 3| in the total length, the length of the 

 head nearly four times. The snout is of moderate length and rather 

 shorter than the diameter of the eye, which is one-third of the 

 length of the head. The cleft of the mouth is moderate, the maxillary 

 scarcely reaching beyond the vertical from the anterior margin of 

 the eye. Prajoperculum with the posterior limb nearly vertical and 

 finely serrated, the denticulations becoming rather stronger at the 

 angle. Dorsal fin deeply notched, with slender spines, the fourth 

 being the longest and more than one-half of the length of the head. 

 Caudalis deeply forked. The second anal spine rather slender, nearly 

 equal to the following, and one-third the length of the head. Silvery, 

 with five golden parallel longitudinal bands on each side, and a sixth 

 medial one from the crown to the origin of the dorsal ; the spinous 

 dorsal blackish. 



Caribbean Sea. 



a. Adult : stuffed. West Indies. Purchased of Mr. Scrivener. 

 h. Fine specimen. Trinidad. Presented by J. B. Richardson, Esq. 



Description. — The upper profile descends in a gentle curve from 

 the fourth dorsal spine to the end of the snout. The body is not 

 very elevated, its greatest depth being 3i in the total length. The 

 head forms nearly one-fourth of the same length, and has the croAvn 

 rather concave and covered with small scales to the nostrils. The 

 distance between the eyes is less than the width of the orbit. The 

 cleft of the mouth is nearly horizontal, with the jaws equal ; the 

 upper maxillary reaches to, or scarcely be^-ond, the anterior margin 

 of the orbit ; it is nearly entirely hidden beneath the praeorbital, the 

 greatest width of which is three-quarters of the diameter of the eye ; 

 the posterior portion of the praeorbital is scaly. The eye is rather 

 large, one-third of the length of the head, and nearer the end of the 

 snout than of the operculum. The posterior limb of the prteoper- 

 culura is very slightly emarginate, or nearly vertical, and finely 

 serrated ; the angle is roundcnl, and armed with rather coarser denti- 

 culations. The operculum has a slight notch posteriorly ; the supra- 

 scapula is hidden by the scales and minutely serrated. 



