388 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [46] 
This species is rather common about Mazatlan, where numerous speci- 
mens were taken by Dr. Gilbert. It is readily distinguished from other 
species by the weakness of its dorsal spines, as well as by the large 
number of the anal rays. 
44. BAIRDIELLA RONCRHUS. 
(RONCO ; CORVINA.) 
Corvina ronchus Cuv. & Val., Hist. Nat. Poiss., v, 107, 1830 (Maracaibo; Surinam), 
Storer, Syn. Fish. North Am., 320, 1846 (copied). Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit, 
Mus., ii, 299, 1860 (San Domingo, Jamaica, Bahia). Giinther, Fishes Central 
America, 387, 1869 (Atlantic coast Central America). Cope, Ichthyol. Lesser 
Antilles, 471, 1870 (St. Martin). 
Bairdiella ronchus Poey, Synopsis, 324, 1868 (Cuba). Poey, Enumeratio, 48, 1875 
(Cuba). Poey, Fauna Puerto-Riquefia, 526, 1881 (Porto Rico). 
Sciena ronchus Jordan, Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus., 1886, 44 (Havana). 
Habitat.—Atlantic coasts of tropical America. 
This species seems to be generally common in the West Indies and 
along the coast of Brazil. 
The numerous specimens before us are from Havana. The species is 
called Corvina in the Havana markets, where it is a food-fish of some 
importance. 
Many specimens from Rio Janeiro and from Havana are in the mu- 
seum at Cambridge. There is considerable individual variation, but 
there seems to be no specific difference between Cuban and Brazilian 
examples. 
A number of specimens in poor condition are also in the museum, 
supposed to have been obtained by Captain Perry at Vera Cruz. These 
have the snout longer, the eye smaller, and the fins higher than usual 
in ronchus, and they may represent a different species. In these the 
snout is 4 in head, the eye 44, the longest dorsal spines 13, the second 
anal spine 12. D. X-I, 24. 
45. BAIRDIELLA ARMATA. 
Bairdiella armata Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1863, 164 (west coast Central 
America), Bean & Dresel, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1884, 156 (Jamaica). 
Corvina armata Giinther, Fishes Central America, 387 and 428, 1869 (Pacific coast of 
Central America). 
Sciena armata Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. U. 8. Fish Com., 1881, 316(Panama). Gilbert, 
Bull. U. 8, Fish Com., 1882,112 (Punta Arenas). Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. 
8. Nat. Mus., 1882, 276 (Panama). 
Corvina acutirostris Steindachner, Ichthyol. Beitr., iii, 28,1875, plate 4 (Panama). 
Corvina (Homoprion) acutirostris Steindachner, Zur Fisch-Fauna des Magdalenen- 
Stromes, 9, 1878 (Caiman on Rio Magdalena). 
Habitat.—Both coasts of tropical America. 
This species is not uncommon on the Pacific coast about Panama, 
and it is equally abundant on the Atlantic coast, where it seems to as- 
cend the rivers. 
