Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 2689 



type, 100 mm. long, collected by the Albatross at Station 2408, depth 21 

 fathoms, between Pensacola and Cedar Keys, Florida. (Goode & Bean.) 

 On reexamining our specimens of Etropus, we find that those obtained 

 by Jordan & Evermanu from Pensacola differ from the others in the 

 greater elongation of the body aud in the somewhat grayer coloration. 

 These correspond fairly to the description and figure of Etropus rimosus. 

 All other specimens from the United States coast collected by Dr. Jordan 

 and his associates are, in our opinion, referable to Etropus crossotus. The 

 original description of Citharichthys microstomus, Gill, fits this species 

 better than any other known. The fish in question is much too elongate 

 for Etropus crossotus (depth 2$- in total length), and the mouth is too small 

 for any of the known species of Citharichthys (maxillary 4 in head; mandi- 

 ble 2). We have little doubt of the identity of Etropus rimosus and micro- 

 stomus, but leave the matter for further investigation. The separation of 

 E. rimosus from E. crossotus is not beyond question, (rimosus, frosted.) 



Etropus rimosus, GOODE & BEAN, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1885, 593, coast of Florida, between 

 Pensacola and Cedar Keys, dredged at the depth of 21 fathoms; GOODE & BEAN, 

 Oceanic Ichthyology, 455, pi. 104, figs. 360, 361, 1896. (The latter figure an excellent 

 representation of the symmetrical, translucent larval form, before the right eye has 

 crossed the forehead.) 



Etropus crossotus, JORDAN & EVERMANN, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1886, 476; not of JORDAN &. 

 GILBERT. 



3062. ETROPUS CROSSOTUS, Jordan & Gilbert. 



Head 4 in length ; depth If to 2. D. 76 to 85 ; A. 56 to 67 ; V. 6 ; scales 

 42 to 48; vertebne 9 -{-25 = 34. Body oval, strongly compressed, with the 

 dorsal and ventral curves nearly equal; both outlines strongly arched an- 

 teriorly, the body much deeper in adult specimens. Head very small; 

 snout short ; mouth very small, its cleft not so long as diameter of orbit. 

 Teeth conical, pointed, close set, strongly incurved, in a single series, 

 those in upper jaw on blind side only, those in lower jaw on both sides. 

 Eyes large, the lower in advance of the upper, the two separated by a 

 very narrow scaleless ridge, which extends backward above preopercle; 

 edge of opercle on blind side, with a row of conspicuous white cilia. 

 Upper nostril turned somewhat to blind side; anterior nostril on left 

 side, with a very slender cirrus. Dorsal fin commencing over front of 

 upper eye, its middle rays highest, the anterior not elevated; anal fin 

 not preceded by a spine, its middle rays highest; caudal fin very sharply 

 double- truncate, as long as head ; pectorals short, that of left side the 

 longer, about f length of head; ventral of colored side on ridge of abdo- 

 men, the membrane of its last rays nearly reaching base of first ray of 

 anal ; ventral of blind side longer than the other, ^ length of head, inserted 

 farther forward than that of colored side. Vent lateral, with a well- 

 developed anal papilla. Scales thin, large, ctenoid on colored side, 

 smooth on blind side, those on the middle part of the body larger; head 

 entirely scaly, except snout and iuterorbital ridge; rays of vertical fins 

 with scales on the basal half, on colored side; lateral line developed 

 equally on both sides, nearly straight. Color olive brown, with some 

 darker blotches most distinct in the larger specimens; vertical fins finely 

 mottled and streaked with black and gray; pectoral and ventral on left 



