Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 1119 



below middle of orbit, 21? in head. Dorsal spines of moderate strength, 

 the third longest, about half as long as head ; second anal spine more or 

 less longer than third, 2 to 2 in head, the spines variable in length, 

 longer in the young. Ventrals 2 in head ; pectoral 2 in head ; caudal 

 shortish, 1^ in head, reaching more than halfway to anal. Air bladder 

 with a pair of shortish appendages anteriorly, these about as long as eye. 

 Color olive green, the sides dull silvery ; dorsal fins blackish ; lateral line 

 black ; ventrals pale yellowish, rarely dotted with black ; blackish 

 shades behind second dorsal spine. Length 2 to 4 feet. The largest, most 

 abundant, and much the most important species of the genus. Common 

 on sandy shores throughout the West Indies, from the coast of Texas 

 to Surinam or beyond. An excellent food-fish with delicate white flaky 

 flesh, like that of the striped bass (Eoccus lineatm). Here described from 

 specimens from Havana, (undecim, eleven, the soft dorsal with eleven 

 rays.) 



Scisenaundedmalis, BLOCK, Ichthyol., vi, 60, pi. 303, 1792, Jamaica. 

 Centropomus undecimradiatus, LACPEDE, Hist. Nat. Poiss., iv, 268, 1802, after BLOCE. 

 Perca loubina, LACPEDE, Hist. Nat. Poiss., iv, 397, 1802, Cayenne. 

 Sphyriena aureoviridis, LACEPEDE, Hist. Nat. Poiss., v, 324, 1803, Martinique. 

 Centropomus appendiculalus, POEY, Memorias, n, 119, 1860, Havana andCienfuegos. 

 Centropomus undecimalis, CUVIER & VALENCIENNES, Hist. Nat. Poiss., n, 102, 1828 ; VAILLANT & 



BOCOURT, Miss. Sci. Mex., iv, 17, 1875 ; GUNTHER, Cat., i, 79; JORDAN & GILBERT, Synopsis, 



528 ; BOULENGER, Cat., i, 367. 



1517. CENTROPOMUS NIGRESCENS, Gtinther. 



(ROBALO PRIETO.) 



Head 2 to 2 ; depth 4 to 4fc; eye 7 to 9 in head. D. VIII-I, 10; A. 

 Ill, 6; scales 10-73 to 78-19, pores 70. Gill rakers 4 + 9. Body robust, 

 the flanks not compressed. Preorbital very faintly serrated ; subopercu- 

 lar flap reaching to within 5 scales of origin of dorsal fin. Maxillary 

 extending a little beyond middle of orbit, 2f in head. Dorsal spines not 

 very strong, much as in Centropomus undecimalis, third and fourth 

 equal in length, 2 to 2| in head ; second anal spine rather shorter than 

 third, barely head ; ventral 2& in head, reaching scarcely more than i 

 distance of its base from anal. Pectoral 2i in head. Caudal shortish. 

 Air bladder without appendages anteriorly. Dusky olive, sides silvery ; 

 dusky shades on opercle and base of pectoral; ventrals largely black; 

 upper fins dusky ; lateral line black. Length 2 to 3 feet. Pacific Coast 

 of Tropical America ; generally common from Mazatlan to Panama ; a food 

 fish of some importance, rather smaller in size than Centropomus viridis. 

 Here described from a specimen from Mazatlan. (nigrescens, blackish.) 



Centropomus nigrescem, GUNTHER, Fishes Central America, 407, 1869, Chiapas; VAILLANT & 

 BOCOUHT, Miss. Sci. Mex., 20, 1875. 



1618. CENTROPOMUS PEDIMACULA, Poey. 

 (CONSTANTINO DE LAS ALETAS PRIETAS; ROBALITO DE LAS ALETAS PRIETAS.)- 



Head 2 ; depth 3f to 3| ; eye 5 in head. D. VIII-I, 10 ; A. Ill, 7 ; scales 

 8-55 to 58-11, pores 55 ; 21 scales before dorsal ; gill rakers 5 + 13. Body 



