264 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [40] 
ANALYSIS OF SPECIES OF PLATOPHRYS. 
a. Anal rays—at least anteriorly—each with a spinule at base (these are formed by 
a slight widening of the tip of the interhiemal spines, each being coy- 
ered by a little rough scale); front of dorsal with similar projections. 
b. Color brownish, more or less marked with spots of light blue and brownish, 
which are usually edged with darker, these usually arranged in rings ; 
a large black blotch on the lateral line; mouth small, the maxillary 4 
in head; interorbital width ranging with age and sex from 23 to 44 in 
head; snout short, scarcely forming a re-entrant angle at its base; an 
angle opposite upper eye; depth 14 in length, D. 85 to 91, A. 70. 
PopDAS, 37. 
bb. Color brown, covered with pale rounded spots; fins dotted with brown; a faint 
dark spot at first third of lateral line; snout with horny points; 
mouth small, the maxillary reaching front of eye. Eyes very wide 
apart, 23 in head ; the interorbital space 13 in head; pectoral fin short ; 
curve of lateral line5instraight part. Depth 1%in length. D. about 
74; anal about 57. Scales about 80. (Described from specimens 4} 
inches long, which have been partly dried before being placed in al- 
cohol) isn gee tee se a Secnccoweee een ee eps a= 2 SPINOSUS, 38. 
aa, Anal rays without spinules at their base. 
ce. Anterior profile of head convex before the interorbital area, the very short 
snout scarcely forming a re-entrant angle at its base; form elliptic- 
ovate, the outlines more regular than in Pl. lwnatus. 
d. Dorsal rays 85 to 95. 
e. Seales not very small, about 75 pores in the lateral line. (No blue mark- 
ings, at least in young specimens. ) 
jf. Mouth small, the maxillary 3 in head; no spines about the snout; eye 
34 in length; interorbital width 3 in head (in types); pectoral short; 
curve of lateral line 6 times in straight part; color dark brown, with 
numerous stellate white spots, the most distinct of them with darker 
edgings; these generally scattered over the body, but some of them 
on sides of body are gathered together in little rings. (Perhaps 
these spots are blue rather than white in life.) Fins mottled with dark 
brown, the pectoral finely barred. Head 4in length; depth14; D. 89, A. 
65, scales 75. Specimens examined, 34 inches long..CONSTELLATUS, 39. 
J. Mouth smaller, the maxillary 3? in head; eye 3} in head; interorbital 
space 23; teeth small, biserial above ; arch of lateral line 2 in head. 
Head 4 in length; deptli lj. D. 85 to 90. A. 64 to 67. Lat. 1. 72 to 78. 
Color light grayish, tinged with reddish, with small round spots of 
darker gray, and with lighterrings inclosing spacesof the ground color ; 
vertical fins, similarly colored, with a small black spot at base of each 
9th or 10th ray; two black spots on lateral line; some other black 
spots on body and on caudal fin. Vertebre, 37....-.-. OcELLaTUS, 40. 
ee. Seales smaller, 90 to 95 pores in the lateral line. Mouth small, oblique, 
the maxillary 3; in head; teeth in both jaws in two irregular series; 
arch of lateral line 2? in head. Head 4; depth 13. D.90 to 95. <A. 
70. Lat. J. 90 to 95. Color of adult reddish gray, the body every- 
where covered with rings formed of round, sky-blue spots, which are 
not confluent and are not edged with black; besides these, very few 
detached spots or other blue markings; head with similar blue spots, 
but no rings; area inclosed in the blue rings not different from the 
ground color; caudal with blue spots, other fins with none; dorsal 
and anal mottled; a large, diffuse, dusky spot at front of straight part 
of lateral line, one better defined on middle of lateral line; a faint 
one farther back ; pectorals grayish, with dark bars....MACULIFER, 41. 
