Apsilus 



margin chiefly orange; anal pale at base, rosy at extremity; pectoral 

 yellowish; ventrals rosy; caudal and iris vermilion; inside of mouth 

 dusky. 



GENUS APSILUS CUVIER & VALENCIENNES 



This very distinct genus has the cranial characters of Rhoinbo- 

 plites, with the scaleless fins, peculiar squamation, and dentition of 

 Aprion. There are no teeth on the pterygoids, tongue, or hyoid bones. 

 The dorsal fin is short. 



In our waters there is but the single species, A. dentatus, the 

 arnillo of the Havana fishermen. It is known only from the West 

 Indies, and is not uncommon in the Havana market. It reaches a foot 

 in length, and is a very beautiful little fish, easily distinguished by the 

 generic characters given above. In life this species is dusky-violet 

 above, and on sides paler; inside of mouth and all the fins similar in 

 colour, the anal and ventrals with blackish tips; soft dorsal with some 

 olive shades, the edge grayish. 



GENUS ETELIS CUVIER & VALENCIENNES 



In this genus the dorsal fin is nearly or quite divided into 2 fins 

 by a deep notch, the eye very large, and the preorbital very narrow. 

 It is very closely related to Aprion, the skull in the two being almost 

 identical. 



418 



