Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 1253 



number on each side, larger than in any of our other species of Neomcenis, 

 much larger than those on sides of upper jaw; teeth on tongue in a large 

 oval patch, in front of which are two smaller patches; teeth on voiner 

 forming a crescent-shaped patch, without backward prolongation on the 

 median line. Gill rakers few, not very large, distant, about 1 + 7. Preop- 

 ercle with its posterior margin extending very obliquely forward, the angle 

 therefore very obtusely rounded; a broad shallow notch above the angle, 

 the margin above the notch convex, its edge minutely serrulate; a few 

 coarser teeth at the angle; lower border mostly smooth. In the adult the 

 whole margin of the preopercle is without serrations; suprascapular ser- 

 rate. Posterior nostril nearly round; a single narrow band of scales 

 extending downward and backward from occiput. Dorsal spines rather 

 long, with sharp flexible tips, the fourth the longest, but shorter than the 

 snout, 3^ in head ; anal spines short and strong, much stronger than dorsal 

 spines, the second and third of nearly equal length, the second somewhat 

 strongest, not much longer than diameter of the orbit, 4f in head ; soft rays 

 of anal low, 3 in head ; caudal fin einarginate, 1 in head : pectorals much 

 longer than ventrals, extending slightly beyond them, their length If in 

 head. Scales moderate, firm, present on cheek, opercle, subopercle, and in a 

 single series on interopercle ; scales above lateral line forming very oblique 

 series running upward and backward, not parallel with the lateral line; 

 scales on breast not very small, smaller. than those on opercle; basal por- 

 tions of vertical fins scaly. Coloration: Back and sides very dark olive- 

 brown, the back with a slaty tinge, the sides often with some faint pur- 

 plish; sides paler below; the belly and lower parts of head white; very 

 old specimens largely coppery red, nearly uniform, darker above; each 

 scale on the dorsal region with the basal half dark ; head colored like the 

 body; maxillary broAvnish, no bluish streak 011 preorbital; vertical fins 

 dark brownish ; the spinous dorsal olive-brown with a narrow dark streak 

 at base and tip ; anal with the margin of its first three rays white ; pectorals 

 olivaceous brown; ventrals dark brownish, becoming reddish at base; 

 inside of mouth reddish-yellow. Young with the margin of spinous dorsal 

 and most of anal black; young with 9 dark crossbands; varies much 

 with age. Generally common; known from Pacific coast of tropical 

 America; Cape San Lucas; Guaymas; Mazatlan; Punta Arenas; San Bias; 

 Panama. A large species, valued as food; closely allied to N. cyanopterus; 

 reaching a weight of 20 pounds, (novem, nine; fasciatus, banded, a char- 

 acter seen only in the very young.) 



Lutjanus novemfasciatits, GILL, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862, 251, Cape San Lucas (very 



young); JORDAN & SWAIN, I.e., 443; EVEKMANN & JENKINS, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1891, 



146; JORDAN & FESLER, I. c., 440. 

 Mesoprion pacijicus, BOCOUHT, Ann. Sci. Nat. Paris 1868, 223, Tauesco, Pacific coast of 



Guatemala. 

 Lutjanus prieto, JORDAN & GILBERT, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1881, 353, Mazatlan. (Type, 



No. 28196.) 

 Lutjanus pacijicus, VAILLANT & BOCOURT, Mission Scientifique auMexique, 123, pi. in. fig. 



2, 1881. 

 Lutianus novemfasciatus, JORDAN, Fishes Sinaloa, 454. 



NOTE. The following description is from an adult example, 30 inches long, the so-called 

 Pargo marelio or Maroon snapper, from Mazatlan: Head 3 ; depth 3 (3 in young). D. X, 



