440 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FTSIT AND FISHERIES. 

 4. LUTJANUS NOVEMFASCIATUS. (Pargo Prieto.) 



Lutjiinu^ iiovcmfasciatus Gill, Froc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862, 251 (Cape San Luca8, 

 very young) ; .Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. N. M. 1881 ; ibid, 1. o., 1882, 360 

 and 365 (Cape San Lucas, Pauaraa); Ibid, Pull. U. S. F. C. 1882, 107, 110, 

 112 (Mazatlan, Panama, Punta Arenas); Jordan «fe Swain, 1. c, 1884, 443; 

 Evcrniann & Jenkins, Proc. LI. S. N. M. 1891, 146 (Guaymas). 



Mvsoprion pacifuuH Bocourt, Ann. Sci. Nat. Paris, p. 223, 1868 (Taucsco, Pacific coast 

 of (Guatemala). 



I.tilj<()nts ixicijicnif, Vaillaut & Bocourt, Mission Scientifiqne au Mexicine, 1881 ( ?), 123^ 

 pi. (?)iii, f. 2. 



Lutjuuio^ pruto .loidan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. N. M. 1881, 232, 338, 353, 355 (San 

 Bias, Mazatlan); Jtndan & (Jilbert, 1. c, 1882, 360, 361 (Cape San Lucas). 



Habitat : Pacific coast of tropical America. 



Etymology: Kovem, nine; fasciatm, banded, a character seen only in 

 the very yonug. 



This large tish is the Pacific representative of Lutjanus cyanojyterus, 

 to which it bears a strong resemblauce.' In fact, except for the slightly 

 smaller month of L. uovenifascidtiis, the two species are scarcely dis- 

 tinguishable. It is generally common on the Pacific coast of tropical 

 America, and at Mazatlan it is known as pargo prieto. It was first 

 described from very young sjiecimens, which bear little resemblance to 

 the adult, although comparisons of specimens have assured us of their 

 identity. The nine crossbands, which suggested the inappropriate 

 specific name of worew(/W.S6'/«/».s, are characteristic only of the very 

 y(mng. The name Mesoprioii panfieus was overlooked by Jordan and 

 Gilbert, who published the first satisfactory account of the species 

 under the name o^ Lutjanm prieto. 



5. LUTJANUS CYANOPTERUS. (Cubera.) 



Mesoprion cyanopteruH Cuv. & Val., ii, 472, 1828 (Brazilj; Jordan, Proc. U. fe. N. M. 



1886, .5.34 (examination of type). 

 jAiijnnmt cyanoplerus, .Jordan Ar Swain, 1. c.,,534. 

 ? Memprion parf/iiH Cuv. & Val , ii, 473. 1828 (Puerto Rico). 

 Mesoprion cyvodoii Poey, Repcrtorio, ii, 268, 1868; Poey, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 



1863, 185 (Cuba; not of Cuv. & Val.). 

 lAiljanun cijnodoii Poey, Synopsis, 1868, 294. 

 Luijduus nibera Poey, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y., 75, 1871 (Cuba) ; Poey, Enumeratio, 



1875, 27; Jordan & Swain, 1. c, 442 (Havana). 

 LiitjanuH denlalus (A. Duinf^ril), Vaillant & Bocourt, Miss. Sci. au Mex,, 1881, 125 



(Brazil); Jordan, 1. c. (exaniiuation of type) 



Habitat: Pacific coast of troi)i(al America. 



Titymology: z««ve«<r, blue; TZTzfiov, fin. 



This s])ecies is connnon in the markets of Havana, where it is known 

 as cuhera. It grows to a very considerable si/e, and specimens of less 

 than 5 j)onnds weiglit are very rare in the markets. But one si)ecimen 

 was obtained by Prof. Jordan, no others small enougli to be readily 

 preserved in alcohol being seen. A specimen from Carthagena, United 

 States of Colombia, is in tlic museum at Cambridge. Tlie si)ecies seems 

 to have an iudill'ercnt reputation as a food-fish, being often unwliole- 



