322 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [98] 



The name Plagusia belongs properly to the present genus rather than 

 to the type of Plagusia bilineata, to which it has been restricted by 

 Kaup and Giinther. It is, however, preoccupied in crustaceans, and in 

 any case, both Plagusia and the substitute name Plagiusa are antedated 

 by the name Symphurus. 



One of the American species referred to Symphurus, nebulosus, seems 

 to differ widely from the others and is probably the type of a distinct 

 genus, or subgenus, for which we have suggested the name Acedia. 

 This name is applied by the Cuban fishermen to Symphurus plagusia. 



ANALYSIS OF SPECIES OF SYMPHURUS. 



c. Scales ctenoid, not keeled. (Symphurus.) 



i. Scales small, moderately ctenoid ; the number in a longitudinal series from 75 

 to 105. 

 c. Dorsal and anal fins chiefly black anteriorly and posteriorly, with paler edg- 

 ings ; body moderately elongate, the depth 3f in' length ; the head 

 4£. Scales rather small, not very rough, about 80 in a longitudinal 

 series. D. 90 ; A. 73 to 75. Color rather pale, plain or more or less 

 mottled with darker, but without cross-bars ; fins chiefly black with 



paler edgings Nigeescens, 127. 



cc. Dorsal and anal pale anteriorly, becoming more or less abruptly black pos- 

 teriorly. 

 d. [Caudal fin abruptly pale ; depth 4| in length; head, 5-£. D. 96 to 100; A 

 86 to 87. Scales, 88 to 90. Color, grayish, speckled with brown ; 

 dorsal and anal fins black on last tenth, the caudal abruptly pale ; 



tips of fin-rays vermilion. ] ( Goode $• Bean) Marginatus, 128. 



dd. Caudal tin black, as is a large part of the dorsal and anal ; the black either 

 continuous or in the form of large spots. Color, brownish, often 

 mottled, usually with more or less distinct darker cross-bands, and 

 with longitudinal streaks along the rows of scales, sometimes nearly 

 plain brown. 

 6. Scales quite small, 98 to 105. 

 /. Body decidedly elongate, the depth about 4f in length ; D. 97 ; A. 82 ; 



scales, 98 Elongatus, 129. 



ff. Body less elongate, the depth 3& in length ; head, 5£ ; longitudinal streaks 



very distinct ; D. 100 ; A. 80 ; scales about 105 Atricauda, 130. 



ee. Scales somewhat larger, 75 to 85 ; body rather elongate, the depth 3^ to 

 3f in length ; the head 5J to 5|; D. 90 to 95 ; A. 75 to 80. 



Plagusia, 131. 

 ccc. Dorsal and anal pale throughout, or more or less mottled or spotted with 

 darker; the caudal similarly colored, not distinctly black; body 

 not very elongate, the depth 3 to 3£ in length. (Probably all va- 

 rieties of S. plagiusa) Plagiusa, 132. 



x. Body with dark cross-bands more or less distinct ; the fins mottled 

 or speckled; upper eye slightly in advance of lower. 

 y. Dorsal rays 8G to 95 ; anal rays 75 to 80 ; head 5 in length ; depth 

 ::; ; scales 85 to 93 ; cross-bands more distinct than in related species. 



Var. plagiusa, 132 (a). 



yy. Dorsal rays 78 to 85 ; anal rays 70 to 72 ; head 5 in length ; depth 



3£ ; scales 80 to 90 ; color light brown, with darker cross-bars, which 



become obsolete with age Var. pusillus? 132 (b). 



