260 On a new Fish of the Genus Centroponius. 



Sc. 53-57, \. D. XI, I 14-15, the fourth, fifth and sixth 

 spines the longest, about ^ tlie length of head, the soft tin 

 elevated and pointed, extending beyond the base of caudal 

 when laid back, A. IV 10-11, the third spine the strongest 

 and longest, §-§ the length of head. Pectoral about | the 

 length of head. Upper lobe of caudal the longest. Caudal 

 peduncle 2|-3 times as long as deep. Purplish, with bronze 

 longitudinal stripes between the series of scales j fins pale. 



Total length 210 mm. 



Eight examples from St. Thomas and St. Croix; (thespecies 

 originally recorded from Cuba). 



This species is closely allied to H. sogo^ Bl. [H. longi- 

 jnnnBj C. & V.), from which it differs notably in the smaller 

 mouth, more slender caudal peduncle, and the shape of the 

 spinous dorsal fin. 



Centropomus argenteus, sp. n. 

 Centroponius pa7-allelus (part.), Bouleng, Cat. Fish. i. p. 369 (1895). 



Depth of body o|-4 times in the total length, length of 

 head (excluding the subopcrcular flap) 2| times. Snout 

 much longer than the eye, the diameter of which is about 

 4f times in the length of head, and equal to its distance from 

 the posterior edge of pra^operculum. Maxillar}' extending to 

 below middle of eye ; lower jaw strongly projecting. Sub- 

 opcrcular flap extending to below origin of dorsal. Cheeks 

 and opercles scaly. Praiorbital and supraclavicle serrated ; 

 prseoperculum serrated, with stronger spines at the angle, 

 anterior ridge with two spines. 7-9 gill-rakers and 4-6 

 rudiments on lower part of anterior arch. 67—70 scales in a 

 longitudinal series, 8 or 9 in a transverse series from origin 

 of second dorsal to lateral line. D. VIII, I 10, originating 

 behind the axil of pectoral, the third and fourth spines the 

 longest, about | the length of head. A. Ill, 6, second anal 

 spine stronger and a little longer than the third, as long as 

 or a little longer than the caudal peduncle, |-^ the length of 

 head. Pectoral f the length of head. Ventrals inserted 

 well behind pectorals, extending back a little beyond the 

 vent, which is situated at | the distance from base of ventral 

 spine to origin of anal. Silvery, back darker; lateral line 

 not blackish ; spinous dorsal slightly dusky, fins otherwise 

 pale. 



Total length 135 mm. 



Three specimens, two from Barbadoes (presented by 

 Mr. F. G. Beckford in 1872) and one from British Guiana. 



C. parallehis is easily distinguished by the shorter snout. 



