ON THE GENERIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PRIONOTUS 



STEARNSII. 



By Theodore Gill, 



Honorary Associate in Zoology. 



During an examination of various species of Triglids, undertaken 

 to ascertain their most salient characters, I was struck by the differ- 

 ences from others manifest by the Prionotus stearnsii. A more 

 detailed comparison convinced me that it represented an independent 

 generic group which may be named Colotrigla on account of the 

 curtailment of the pectoral tins and free rays. The following com- 

 parative diagnosis, relieved of all superfluities, has been prepared 

 with the species of Prionotvs and Trigla before me. 



COLOTRIGLA. 



Prionotus sp. Goode, Bean, Jordan and P'vermann. 

 Triglids with the scales uniform, head with almost smooth bones, 

 jaws exserted and even or lower prominent, supramaxillaries exposed, 



Fig. 1.— Colotrigla .steaknsii. (After Jordan and Evermann.) 



teeth on jaws, vomer and palatines, spinous dorsal weak, pectorals 

 very short, and free rays weak and not specially formed for use in 

 progression or sensation. 



The brevity of the pectoral tins or ''wings,'' which so contrasts with 

 the elongation in the true Prumoti., at once arrests attention, but 

 would not perhaps be sufficient alone to. demand recognition by 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXVIII— No. 1396. 



339 



