540 NEW YORK STATE MUSETJM 



developed below the angle and from three to five rudiments;: 

 scales large, those above in series parallel with the lateral line; 

 scales on breast small. Third dorsal spine extremely long,, 

 reaching beyond middle of soft dorsal; other spines all short 

 and oven; soft dorsal moderate, a little scaly at base; dorsal 

 not notched; caudal truncate; second anal spine about one third 

 as long as the head, equal to third, and a little stouter; pectoral 

 about one half as long as the head. 



1). X, 13; A. Ill, 7; scales 6-48-15, pores 45 to 50; B. 6. 



Coloration in spirits brownish; a dark area from front of anal 

 111* to soft dorsal; before this a w^hitish area; upper parts with 

 faint, iiiU'i'rupted dark streaks along the rows. of scales; a dark 

 band upward from middle of base of ventrals; fins clouded. 

 Length 10 ini:hes. (After Jordan & Evermami) 



De Kay described a specimen 4^ inches long as of a yellowish- 

 gray color, with three or more dusky vertical bands, and with 

 ventral fins tinged with blackish toward their tips. He re- 

 garded it as an accidental visitor from the tropics. The sub- 

 ject of liis not<'s was an example seen several years prior to the 

 publication of his work in the collection of Mr Hamilton, who 

 informed liiiii lliat it had been taken in the harbor of New York. 

 TIh-ic ;ip|tcai-s to be no later record of the occurrence of the 

 spiTjis oil our coast. De Kaj^ refers to a specimen from 

 .l;iiii;ii<a, bin I lie range is generally restricted to the coasts of 

 Ilrazil and I'liiguay. 



Genus rypticus Cuvier 



i'.ody (d)long. comi)ressed, covered with very small, smooth, 

 ciiihoddcd scales. Lalrral line normal; head scaly. Mouth 

 i-ailiri- laigc, (Ili(|ii('. tlio lower jaw the longer; maxillary with 

 a sii|i|ilriiniital bone, as in Epinephelus, with which 

 gfiiiis this t'orm agrees in general osteology; smooth area on 

 t"|. <r iianiiiiii vriy large, transversely convex, much longer 

 iliaii ilir sii|piaor(i|.iial crest; interorbital area very narrow; 

 |':iii(i;il and sn inaoccijiital bones short, with feeble crests 

 wlii'li du iiui ex I end on I lie frontals; premaxillaries reaching 

 froiiials, \vlii( h have a I'ossa in front; teeth all villiform, in 



