404 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [62] 



59. SCIiENA TYPICA. 



Ophio8cion typicus Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1863, 165 (west coast Central 



America). 

 Corvina ophioscion Giinther, Fish. Central America, 387 and 428, 1866 (Panama). 

 Seicena ophioscion Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. IT. S. Fish Com., 1881, 315 (Panama). 



Habitat — Pacific coast of tropical America; Panama. 



This species is not uncommon about Panama. In its slender head 

 and lanceolate caudal fin it would seem to differ widely from most of 

 the related forms. Its relations with 8. sclera are, however, close, and 

 8. imiceps is evidently intermediate. 



The undesirability of such words as "typicus" as specific names is 

 very evident in this case. If we follow the law of priority we have a 

 name which is self-contradictory, as this is one of the species most un- 

 like the real type of 8ciama. 



60. SCIiENA IMICEPS. 



Seicena imiceps Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. U. S. Fish Com., 1881, 309 (Bay of Panama). 



Habitat. — Pacific coast of tropical America ; Panama. 



This small species is not rare at Panama. It resembles the species of 

 StelHferus, and it has real affinities with the latter group. The head is, 

 however, different, being low and narrow, and little cavernous, while 

 the gill-rakers are very short, as in the other species referred to Ophio- 

 scion. 



61. SCIiENA SCIERA. 



(CORBINETA.) 



Seicena vermieularis Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. U. S. Fish Com., 1881, 315 (Mazatlau ; 



Panama) fnot Corvina vermieularis Giinther). Gilbert, I.e., 1882, 112 (Punta 



Arenas). 

 Seicena sclera Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1884, 480 (Panama). 



Habitat. — Pacific coast of tropical America. 



This species is one of the most abundant of the Sciaenoid fishes on 

 the Pacific coast of Mexico. It was at first taken by Jordan and Gil- 

 bert for the Corvina vermieularis of Giinther, but the latter species is 

 well distinguished by the enlarged teeth * of the lower jaw and by the 

 sharp upper lobe of the caudal. 



62. SCIiENA VERMICULARIS. 



Corvina vermioularis Giinther, Fish. Central America, 387 and 427, plate 67, fig. 2, 1869 



(Panama). 

 Seicena vermieularis Jordan, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1885, 381 (Panama). 



Habitat. — Pacific coast of tropical America; Panama. 



This species is rare about Panama. One specimen was obtained by 

 Dr. Gilbert in 1883. Besides this, only Dr. Giinther's original type is 

 on record. 



* This character is not mentioned in the description of S. vermieularis. We give it 

 on the strength of our remembrance of the species, as no specimens of the species now 

 exist in any American museum. 



