306 FISHES 



It often reaches a length of three feet and a weight of ahout fifty pounds, this 

 being the largest size attained by any of the species of this genus. A fifteen- 

 pound specimen was taken by the Expedition in Clarence Harbor, and the 

 fish was fairly common in the wells of the fishing boats In Nassau harbor in 

 June, 1903. It is also one of the commonest of the food-fishes of Bermuda. 

 The younger forms are known as " Hamlet grouper." 



Mycteropekca vexexosa apua (Bloch). 

 West Indies; Florida Keys to Brazil. C. L. Edwards collection, Green 

 Turtle Cay, 1888. 



Petrometopon cruentatus (Lacepede) (Coney or Eed Hind). 

 This is a handsome fish, reaching a length of 1 foot and inhabiting the 

 waters of the West Indian region generally. It is a fair food-fish. Specimens 

 were oljtained by the Expedition at I^assau and Tiura Cay in June and July, 

 1903. 



BoDiAXus FULVus (Linnffius) (Yellow Fish). 

 This species grows to a length of 1 foot, is a fairly good food-fish, and 

 occurs from Bermuda to Florida and throughout the West Indies. " Nigger- 

 fish," " butter-fish," " guativere " and " guativere amarilla " are other names 

 applied to the species. One example collected by the Expedition at Watlings 

 Island, July 11, 1903. 



BoDiANus FULVUS RUBER (Bloch and Schneider) (Eed Guativere). 

 A variety of the preceding, and like it variable in color. Of the same 

 general range. Obtained by the Expedition in Nassau, July 20, 1903. 



BoDiANUs FULVUS PUNCTATUS (Liunjeus) (Negro Fish). 

 Plate LA'III. 

 An old and well-known but rather unimportant food-fish of the Bahamas, 

 Bermuda and the West Indies generally. Dr. Goode in his list of fishes ob- 

 served and collected in Bermuda during the months of February and March, 

 1872,' says: "The names ' l)utter-fish ' and 'nigger-fish' are in use also at 

 Barbados, St. Thomas and the Bahamas, as applied to this and an allied species. 

 The first refers to the color and soft, oily feeling of the yellow variety; the 

 latter probably also to color." 



' Bulletin V, of the U. S. National Mupeum, Washington, D. C, 1876. 



