Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 2497 



united as far back only as vertical from end of maxillary ; opercle adher- 

 ent above the upper angle, which is produced in a point extending above 

 the base of pectorals ; below the angle the opercular margin runs very 

 obliquely forward. Eye large, greater than interorbital width. Origin 

 of dorsal fin distant from nape by the length of the head, the fin a very 

 inconspicuous fold anteriorly, becoming higher posteriorly, where the 

 rays are evident; anal well developed along entire length, beginning 

 immediately behind vent and running to tail, its rays visible; caudal 

 exceedingly short; pectorals very well developed, more than \ length of 

 head; vent just in front of base of pectorals. Head and body perfectly 

 translucent; a faint silvery luster on middle of sides anteriorly; a few 

 inconspicuous small light yellowish spots along middle of sides (disap- 

 pearing in alcohol) ; tip of tail dusky; upper margin of orbit black. Pa- 

 cific coast of Mexico. A single specimen, 3 inches long, was found buried 

 in the sand at low tide on the beach at Mazatlan. This specimen may be 

 identical with Fierasfer dubius, but it is more robust than Putnam's types, 

 with longer head and without enlarged teeth in upper jaw. It may be 

 regarded as distinct, pending investigation, (arena, sand ; colo, I inhabit.) 

 Fierasfer arenicola, JORDAN & GILBERT, Proc. TJ. S. Nat. Mua. 1881, 363, Mazatlan. 

 (Type, No. 29244. Coll. C. H. Gilbert.) 



2869. FIERASFER BERMUDENSIS (Jones). 



Head 8| in length ; eye 4, longer than snout ; mouth large, the maxillary 

 reaching beyond orbit; pectoral 2| in head. Teeth small, acute, unise- 

 rial, 3 in a line on the vomer; palatine teeth small.* Color pale brownish, 

 a bluish streak crossing the nape between the opercles, 4 pale points on 

 the back. Vertebrae 100. Length 140 mm. West Indies. This descrip- 

 tion (by Poey) from a specimen taken in the stomach of a holothurian at 

 Havana. Others are recorded from Key West and St. Thomas, the latter 

 from an oyster ; not seen by us ; doubtfully distinct from Fierasfer dubius 

 or affinis, but the vomerine teeth said to be smaller. 

 ICarapus affinis, POEY, Synopsis, 402, 1867; not Fierasfer affinis, GtJNTHER. 

 Lefroyia bermudensis, JONES, Zoologist, ix, 1874, 3838, Bermuda.t (Coll. General Lefroy.) 



* In another specimen, according to Poey, the teeth are villiform, with an enlarged 

 series outside, the lower teeth largest, the ninth, tenth, and eleventh largest; teeth on 

 vomer small, acute, in a row : palatine teeth bluntish. 



t Fierasfer bermudensis (Jones) was thus originally described : 



" Total length rather more than 4 inches. Greatest depth at the vertical of the pec- 

 torals 3J lines. The length of the head is slightly more than f of the total length. The 

 greatest width of the head rather less than of its length. Body naked, attenuate, com- 

 pressed. Facial outline rugose. Eye moderate ; horizontal diameter of eyecup If lines ; 

 vertical diameter 1 lines. Gape of the mouth ovoid. Lower j aw shorter and received 

 within the upper. Cardiform teeth of irregular size in both jaws, vomer. and palatines, 

 those of the latter largest. Branchiostegals 7, inflated, united below. Vent thoracic. 

 Pectorals originating at the upper angle of the operculum, 3 lines in extent, and composed 

 of very delicate soft rays. Dorsal indistinct, commencing in a groove about the vertical Ol 

 the twentieth anal ray, continuous to caudal extreme, where, in conjunction with the anal, 

 it forms a small filamentous tip. Anal prominent, commencing immediately behind the 

 vent in advance of the A^ertical of the upper angle of the operculum, and extending to 

 the caudal extreme. About its center it is equal in depth to that of the body at same 

 position. Owing to the delicate texture of the fins it is impossible to ascertain certainly 

 the number of rays, but those of the anal exceed 140. Color, when dried out of spirits, 

 golden yellow ; the body transparent, showing the vertebrae within ; a condition, according 

 to Lefroy, equallv observable in life. 



"I propose to publish it as Lefroyia bermudensis, in compliment to the gallant omcer to 

 whom I am indebted for the specimen." (J. Matthew Jones.) 



This species is probably identical with the one called ajfinis by 1 oey. 



