2196 Bulletin 4.7, United States National Museum. 



series; skull much as in Eleotris; D. VII-I, 8; A. I, 9 or 10; no spine on 

 preopercle ; post-temporals inserted midway between occipital crest and 

 edge of skull; supraoccipital crest low. (dormitator, one who sleeps.) 



2518. DORMITATOR MACULATTJS (Bloch). 



(GUAVINA MAPO; PANECA.) 



Head 3; depth about 3 in adult. D. VII-I, 8 or 9; A. 1, 9 or 10; lateral 

 line 33. Body short, robust; head broad and flat above; eye small, less 

 than snout; caudal a little shorter than head; mouth little oblique ; max- 

 illary reaching to anterior margin of orbit; lower jaw little projecting; 

 no teeth on vomer; interspace between dorsals equaling orbit; highest 

 anal ray If in head ; highest dorsal ray 1^ in head ; skull much as in 

 Eleotris, but everywhere broader; no spine on preopercle; post-temporal 

 inserted midway between occipital crest and edge of skull ; supraoccipital 

 crest low; scales large, becoming much smaller on belly, 25 series on 

 median line from base of ventrals to vent ; 18 series across breast from 

 pectoral to pectoral ; 18 on a median line from posterior border of orbit to 

 dorsal. Dark brown, with lighter bluish spots; a faint dark stripe along 

 sides ; a conspicuous large dark blue spot edged with black above base of 

 pectorals ; a dark streak from eye to angle of mouth ; 2 dark streaks on 

 side of head; branchiostegal membrane blackish; dorsals barred with 

 spots; anal dusky, barred with bluish, and with white margin; a dark 

 bar on base of pectoral. Length 1 to 2 feet. Both coasts of America, 

 ranging from South Carolina through the West Indies to Para", Cape San 

 Lucas, and Panama, in fresh or brackish water; everywhere abundant 

 and used as food. Dr. Eigenmann observes : 



There seem to be 2 forms of the adult one with the profile gibbous, the dorsal out- 

 line forming a regular curve ; the other having the profile depressed over the eyes, the 

 anterior portion being subhorizontal. The specimens from Gurupa and the Rio Grande 

 have the profile depressed ; all the other specimens have a gibbous profile. A comparison 

 in detail of the two forms is appended. Only extreme differences are given. 



"West Indian specimens 5 to 7 inches. 



Profile regularly curved from first dorsal 

 spine to snout. 



Head 3 to 4 ; depth 3 to 3 ; depth always 

 greater than length of head. 



Highest anal ray 1^ to If in head. 



Distance from first dorsal spine to snout 

 greater than distance from first dorsal spine 

 to first anal ray. 



Scales in median series 29 to 32. 



Color usually dark brown, a black spot 

 above base of pectoral, a short bar on base 

 of pectoral. 



Rio Grande specimens 5, 6J, and 7 inches. 



Profile depressed over eye, becoming hori- 

 zontal anteriorly. 



Head 3 ; depth 3 to 3 ; depth usually less 

 than length of head. 



Highest anal ray If to 2 in head. 



Distance from first dorsal spine to snout 

 equals distance from first dorsal spine to 

 base of last anal ray. 



Scales in median series 30 to 34. 



Color gray, a jet-black spot above base of 

 pectoral ; a black bar at base of pectoral ; a 

 black line from eye to mouth; longitudinal 

 black lines on cheeks and opercles; dark 

 spots on back ; some silvery scales on sides. 



Among our specimens from Mazatlan are 3 markedly different forms 

 which seem like distinct species. In view of the great variations to which 

 this species is subject we do not, however, regard them as such, especially 

 as none of the three corresponds exactly to the account above given of the 

 2 Atlantic forms. 



