SPAROID FISHES OF AMEKK^A AND EUROPE. 529 



Subfamily IX.— SCATHARINiE. 

 XXXV. BOX. 



Box Ciiv. & Val., VI, 31G, 1830 (hoops). 



Type: Sparus hooi)S L. 



Etymology: /?w|, ho,i\, ;in old name of the typical s[)(;cies, still called 

 Bogue or Boga in southern i^^uropc. 



This genus contains one very well known species aoinidant in the 

 seas of southern Europe. It has been commonly referred to the same 

 genus as the next species, but the elongate form of the body, the much 

 larger eye, and especially the presence of 14 or 15 dorsal spines instead 

 of 11, seem sufficient for its generic separation. The name Box has been 

 almost universally used for both species, but that of Boops is older, and 

 must take its place, as Bleeker has shown, if the two are placed in one 

 genus. Under Boops, B. salpa is the first species mentioned by Cuvier, 

 and Bleeker has made this the type of the genus Boops. It is evident 

 however, that B. hoops was regarded by Cuvier & YaleTiciennes as the 

 type of Box. This fact may .justify us in retaining both names, Boops 

 and Box, rather than to invent a new generic or subgeneric name for 

 Box hoops. 



139. BOX BOOPS (L.). 



Besides the well known Boxhoops, another species* o^ Box has been 

 erroneously accredited to the West Indies. The type of Box carahaica* 

 came, however, from St. Vincent of the Cape Verde groui:» and not 

 from tlie West Indian island of the same name. 



XXXVI. BOOPS. 



Cynaedus Gronow, Zoopbyl., 1763 (sdlpa) (nou-ljiuomial). 



Boops Olivier, Regno Auimal, eil. 1, 1817, 270 (i^aljxi, mehnitiruti, hoops; restricted 



by Bleeker, Systcma Percariim Revisuni, to Boops salpa, the first species 



nientioued by Cuvier). 

 Cynaedus Gronow, Syst. Ed. Gray, 1854, 55 {onias = salpa ; \iui C'//Ha<ZHs Swainaou, 



1839 =r Cremlahrus). 



Type : Spar us salpa L. 



Etymology: Hoax;', hoops, large-eyed, a name applied by Eondelet to 

 Box hoops. It is probably an error for j3i'>^. 



This genus as here understood contains one common European 

 species. 



140. BOOPS SALPA (!>.). Mediterraueau Sea and neighboring islands. 



* Ihx rul{iaris var. carabaica Giinther, i, 419, 1859 (St. Vincent). 



Tliis species is said todift'er from Boxhoops in the slightly smaller scales, and by 

 the presence of 15 dorsal spines instead of 14. As already noted {Parapristipoma 

 viridcnse) there is an island called St. Vincent in the Cape Verde Archipelago as well 

 as in the West Indies. There is no doubt, as already shown, tliat the typo of Box 

 carahaica came from the other St. Vincent, and it is doubtless identical with the. 

 common Boga of Europe. 



H. Mis. 113 34 



