374 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [32] 



27. NEBRIS MICROPS. 



Nebris microps Cuv. & VaL, Hist. Nat. Poiss., v, 149, plate 112, 1830 (Surinam). 

 Giiuther, Cat. Fish, Brit. Mus., ii, 31G, 18G0 (copied)- Stcindackner, Icktliyol. 

 Beitr., iv, 10, 1875 (Bay of Panama). Jordan & Gilbert, Bull, U. S. Fisli Coin., 

 1882, 111 (Panama). 



Habitat. — Both coasts of Central America, Surinam, Panama. 



The specimen from which our description is taken was obtained by 

 Professor Gilbert at Panama, where the species is not rare. 



The original type of the species, from Surinam, has been examined by 

 us, but it is not in very good condition, and no characters distinguishing 

 it from the Panama form were noted. No direct comparison of Atlantic 

 and Pacific specimens has yet been made. Numerous specimens from 

 Panama are in the museum at Cambridge. 



Genus VI.— LARIMUS. 



Larimus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., v, 145, 1830 (6r< viceps). 

 Amblyscion Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1863, 165 (argenteus). 

 Monosira Poey, Anales do Hist. Nat. Esp., 1881, 326 (stahli). 



Type : Larimus breviceps Cuvier & Valenciennes. 



This genus seems to be a very natural one, and well worthy of dis- 

 tinction, although it is very closely related to Bairdiella and other more 

 typical Sciamoids. The short snout and oblique mouth reach an extreme 

 in Larimus argenteus, but no definite generic line can be drawn between 

 that species and the others. Besides the following, one other species, 

 Larimus pel i Bleeker, is known, from Guinea. The species called Lari- 

 mus auritus (Brachydcuterus auritus Gill) is not a Sciamoid fish at all, but 

 allied to Pomadasis. 



ANALYSIS OF SPECIES OF LARIMUS. 



a. Dorsal with 27 to 30 soft rays; mouth extremely oblique or vertical. 



b. Month large, the cleft vertical ; profile slightly convex, nearly horizontal ; no 

 traces of dark stripes along the rows of scales ; snout very short, 5^ in head ; 

 eye large, 4| ; profile slightly convex, little oblique ; snout very short, 5| in 

 bead ; maxillary not extending beyond anterior margin of pupil, 2 in head ; teeth 

 all minute ; preopercle with a striated aud ciliated membranaceous border ; 

 gill-rakers £ length of eye, 7 + 16; scales on head all cycloid; highest dorsal 

 spine 2$ iu head ; ventrals a little shorter than pectorals, which are about as 

 long as head ; color plumbeous above, golden below and on sides ; a black axil- 

 lary spot ; a largo steel-blue opercular spot. Head 3£ in length ; depth 3£. D. 

 X-I, 27; A. II, 6. Scales 6-49-6 Argenteus, 28. 



bb. Mouth not quite vertical ; upper parts with dark streaks along the rows of 

 scales ; profile slightly convex, a little oblique ; snout very short, 6 in head ; eye 

 4 ; maxillary extending to below front of orbit, 2 in head ; teeth in lower jaw 

 uniseri.il, in upper uniserial in front, in about two series laterally; preopercle 

 with a ciliated, membranous border; gill-rakers slender and long, 10 + 21; 

 dorsal spines weak, the highest If in head ; ventrals a little shorter than pec- 

 torals, which are as long as head ; scales largo, those on head chiefly cycloid ; 

 color plumbeous-silvery, with more or less conspicuous oblique blackish streaks 



