The Groupers 



a. Nostrils unequal, the posterior much the larger, 3 times diameter of 



anterior; pyloric coeca numerous mystacinus, 382 



aa. Nostrils subequal, the posterior scarcely the larger; pyloric cceca 

 fewer. 



b. Second dorsal spine shorter than third or fourth; caudal more or 



less rounded. 



c. Dorsal spines 10 analogus, 382 



cc. Dorsal spines 1 1. 



d. Maxillary naked. 



e. Lower jaw strongly projecting. 



/. Body and head with red or orange spots adscensionis, 383 



ff. Body and head reddish brown, the adult nearly plain, .gua^a, 383 



ee. Lower jaw not prominent labriformis, 383 



dd. Maxillary more or less scaly. 



g. Preopercle with a more or less salient angle. 



h. Body without orange or dark brown spots; vertical fins without 



broad black margins. 

 /. Caudal peduncle without black, saddle-like blotch above. 



flavolimbatus, 383 

 ii. Caudal peduncle with a large, quadrate, saddle-like black blotch 



above. 

 /. Eye not surrounded by dark points; no dark cross-bars; lower 



jaw strongly projecting niveatus, 384 



jj. Eye surrounded by conspicuous dark brown points; body with 



irregular dark cross-bars; lower jaw little projecting. 



striatus, 384 

 hh. Body covered with small dark orange or brown spots; vertical fins 



broadly edged with blue-black guttatus, 384 



gg. Preopercle without salient angle drummond-hayi, 385 



bb. Second dorsal spine elevated, not shorter than third and fourth ; 



caudal lunate morio, 385 



Epinephelus mystacinus, the cherna de lo alto, is found among 

 the West Indies and south to Brazil, in rather deep water. It reaches 

 about 2 feet in length, but is not abundant enough to be of much com- 

 mercial importance. Colour in life, dull olive-brown above, the body 

 grayish brown, crossed by 8 bands of dark olive-brown, the one on 

 caudal peduncle broadest, darkest on back of tail; a dark line along 

 edge of maxillary, and 3 dark bands across cheek; mouth bluish inside. 

 E. analogus, the cabrilla pinta, is a west coast species, known from 

 Panama and San Salvador. It is not rare, reaches a foot or more in 

 length, and in life is orange-brown on an olivaceous ground, as in E. 

 adscensionis, which this species strongly resembles; no distinct dark 

 edgings to the vertical fins. 



382 



