158 ALBATROSS EXPLORATIONS, FISHES JORDAN AND BOLLMAN. 



dal. Markings on preorbital and cheeks rather indistinct; a large 

 black spot above preopercular angle on opercle; lips bluish. Spin- 

 ous dorsal dusky above ; a small pale spot under tip of spines ; soft 

 dorsal plain olive, dark at base; inner rays of caudal tipped with 

 dusky, a few lower rays pale; pectoral and anal pale; ventrals dusky. 



This species is known from numerous specimens dredged by the Al- 

 batross at stations 2795 and 2797, at a depth of 33 fathoms, and at 

 station 2805 at a depth of 5U fathoms. The largest of these is about 7 

 inches long. 



Taken with this species is another equally abundant and very closely 

 related, distinguished chiefly by the larger scales. This seems to be 

 Biplectrnm macropoma (Centropristis macropoma Guuther), originally 

 described from Panama. The third species of this type, Diplectrum 

 rad iale, was obtained by the Albatross at Panama. In this species the 

 breadth of the fascicle of preopercular spines is notably less, while in 

 the fourth species, D. formosum, this fascicle is, in the adult, divided 

 into two. 



12. Prionodes stilbostigma sp. uov. 



Diagnosis. — Allied to Prionodes luciopercanus (Poey), but the colora- 

 tion entirely different, and the body deeper. 



Type. — No. , U. S. National Museum. 



Hab.— Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Ecuador, 0° 50' S., 89° 30' W. ; 

 depth, 45 fathoms; station, 2809. 



Description.— Head 3 (3§) in length ; depth, 3| (4f ) ; D. X, 12 ; A. Ill, 

 7. Scales, 8-58-18. 



Length of type, 7^ inches. 



Body elongate-elliptical, less slender thau in P. luciopercanus ; back 

 not much elevated; anterior profile straight from tip of snout to front 

 of dorsal. Snout sharp, 3£ in head, lower jaw considerably projecting, 

 mandible 3i in head. Mouth rather large; maxillary reaching nearly 

 to middle of pupil, 24 in head. Eye large, a little shorter than snout, 

 •1 in head. Interorbital space very slightly concave, ridged. Teeth 

 small, anterior teeth of front row in both jaws slightly enlarged; pos- 

 terior teeth of lower jaw also enlarged; vomerine teeth in a A-shaped 

 patch. Preopercle finely serrate, the lower teeth a little coarser, the 

 margin evenly rounded. Opercle ending in three spines of which the 

 middle one is considerably the largest ; membrane extending beyond 

 spines. Gill-rakers moderately long and slender, about 9 developed. 



Scales small, firm, ctenoid; 11 rows on cheeks; 11 vertical rows ou 

 opercle to base of spines ; 2 rows on interopercle. 



Spinous dorsal rather low, not notched; first spine about 1£ in second, 

 fourth very slightly longer than third, as long as from tip of snout to mid- 

 dle of eye, 2^ in head; soft dorsal not elevated, first ray 2j£ in head. 

 Upper lobe of caudal the longer, li? in head; lower lobe, If in head. 

 Spcondanal spine strongest, hardly as long as third, which is .S^ in head; 

 first, If in second ; first anal ray, 3 in head; penultimate longest, 2£ 



