230 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSUEM. 



Anal fin similar, shorter and higher, the spines gradnated, the longest 

 rays more than half length of head. 



Candal wide, moderately forked, the lobes equal, the longest a little 

 longer than head; the depth of the fin. from tip to tip, about equal to 

 greatest depth of body. Pectorals short, slightly longer than ventrals; 

 as long as from snout to edge of preopercle. Veutrals placed well be- 

 hind pectorals, not reaching vent. 



Head 3^- in length; depth 2i. 



Dorsal rays, XI, 11; Anal, HI, 11. Scales, 12-G7-22. 



Coloration in spirits nearly uniform light grayish, without distinct 

 markings; golden yellow in life, according to Lieutenant Kichols; very 

 faint darker streaks present along the rows of scales. Preorbital, sub- 

 orbital, and preopercle bright silvery; lower jaw silvery; both jaws 

 dusky at tip. Fins all pale. A very obscure darker blotch in front of 

 base of pectoral. 



One specimen, about 15 inches in length, taken by Lieutenant !Michols 

 at Braithwaite Bay, Socorro Island. It differs from P. hosci, in forju, 

 in color, and in the greater development of nearly all the fins. 

 11. Caeanx melampygus Cuv. & Val. (No. 28,355 U. S. K M.) 



Body oblong-ovate, compressed, the back arched, the profile not steep, 

 the cuTve from snout to dorsal being a nearly regular arc; ventral out- 

 line nearly straight from the chin to front of anal, where an angle is 

 formed with the ascending base of .the anal. 



Head moderate, compressed, not blunt in profile, the occiput and inter- 

 orbital region elevated and considerably carinated. Mouth moderate, 

 low, oblique, the lower jaw prominent, scarcely projecting beyond upper; 

 maxillary barely reaching to opposite the front of the small eye. Upper 

 jaw with a band of villiform teeth, in front of which is a row of strong- 

 teeth, about ten on each side, the anterior largest, larger than in most 

 species, but hardly canines. Lou'er jaw with a single row of rather 

 large teeth, irregularly placed, much smaller than the larger .teeth of 

 the upper jaw; villiform teeth on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Eye 

 small, placed high and far back; adipose eyelid small. Diameter of 

 eye 2 in length of snout, 1^ in the depth of the broad preorbital, 2^ in 

 the post-orbital part of head, and 2 in iuterorbital area. Cheeks and 

 upper iiart of opercles with small scales ; rest of head naked. Gill- 

 rakers long and sti'ong, as long as eye. 



Scales rather siuail; breast closely scaled; lateral line not strongly 

 arched, becoming straight opposite front of anal, its curved part If in 

 length of straight part. Plates on anterior portion of straight part 

 scarcely different from ordinary scales ; those on posterior portion mod- 

 erate, with high keels and appressed spines; 37 plates in all, counting 

 from beginning of straight part. 



Spinous dorsal moderate, the spines slender, rather high. Procum- 

 bent dorsal spine obsolete. Soft dorsal low, falcate in front, the longest 

 ray little more than half the base of the fin, or li in length of head. 



