SPAROID FISHES OF AMERICA AND EUROPE. 453 



Habitat: Atlantic coast of tropical America, southern Florida to 

 Brazil. 



Etymology: ypoaoq^ gold; oofid, tail. 



This species is very abuudaut at Key West, where it is known as 

 "yellow- tail." In Cuba it is perhaps, next to L. analis and L. synagris, 

 the commonest of the snappers. It is there known as the rabirubia. 



The synonymy of this sjDecies offers little difficulty. The earlier 

 names, chrysurus, rabirubia, semiluna, seem to admit of no doubt. 

 Aurovittatus is admitted as a distinct species by Poey, who has seen it 

 but once, and distinguishes it by the absence of yellow spots on the 

 back. Without further evidence we can not regard the claims of auro- 

 vittatus to distinction as worthy of consideration. The use of the name 

 melanurus for this species by Dr. Goode is certainly an error. There 

 can be no reasonable doubt of the pertinence of Perca melanura L. to 

 Ilwmulon melanurum {dorsale Poey). We have examined the si)ecimens 

 from St. Kitts, described by Prof. Cope under the name of Ocyurus 

 rijgersmoei. These without much doubt are simply brightly-colored 

 adults of this species. 



Specimens of this common species are in the museum at Cambridge, 

 from Rio Grande del Norte, Eio Janeiro, Ceara, Porto Seguro, and Nas- 

 sau. It is evident from the collections made by Agassiz in Brazil that the 

 Lutjanine fishes of that region are identical with those of the West 

 Indian fauna. 



IV. RHOMBOPLITES. 



Rhomboplites Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. 8ci. Phila. 18(]2, 237 (aurorubens). 



Type: Gentropristis aurorube)is Cuv. & Val. 



Etymology: p6/j.i3og, rhomb; oTrAcVry?, armed; from the form of the 

 vomerine patcli of teeth. 



This genus is closely allied to Lutjanus, but the cranial i)eculiarities 

 and extension of the villiform teeth over the pterygoid and hyoid bones 

 seem to warrant generic separation. The form of the vomerine patch 

 of teeth is also somewhat peculiar. But one species is known. 



ANALYSIS OF SPECIES OF RHOMBOPLITES. 



a. Eye large, 3^ to 4 iu head; scales small, 10-72-19; gill-rakers numerous, about 18 

 below augle ; dorsal spiues twelve, high aud sleuder ; vomeriue teeth arranged 

 iu a A-like i)utch; lower jaw projectiug; preorbital narrow; caudal rather 

 deeply forked ; color vermilion red, with sinuous golden streaks ; tins red ; iris 

 red. Head, 3i; depth, 3^. Scales, 10-72-19. D. xii,ll; A. ill, 8. Aurorubens, 24. 



