1378 Bulletin ^7, United States National Museum. 



each series of scales; the hinder side of the axil, and sometimes the inte- 

 rior, blackish; ventrals more or less dusky. Length 8 to 12 inches. 

 (lineatus, streaked.) West Coast of Mexico; a food-fish of some impor- 

 tance; generally common; known from Mazatlan, Acapulco, San Bias, 

 and Chiapas. 



Smaris lineatus, HUMBOLDT, Observ. Zool., n, 185, pi. 46, 1807-1834, Acapulco. (Coll. 



Alex, von Humboldt.) 



Gerres axillaris, GUNTHEB, Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1864, 102, Chiapas. 

 Qerres lineatus, EVERMANN & MEEK, I. c., 269. 



1756. GERRES BRASILIANUS, Cuvier & Yalenciennes. 



(PATAO.) 



Head 3f ; depth 2j ; eye small, 31 in head; snout 3. D. IX, 10; A. Ill, 7 

 or 8; scales 5-38-11. Body compressed, rhomboidal, back very much 

 elevated; profile nearly straight, from spinous dorsal to premaxillary 

 groove, where there is a slight depression; snout conical, bluntish; less 

 acute than in G. lineatus; mouth rather large; maxillary reaching slightly 

 beyond the vertical from anterior margin of pupil, its length 2 ; f in 

 length of head; exposed portion of maxillary oblong, its width 2 in 

 its length, its length 4| in length of head; preorbital and preopercle 

 serrate; premaxillary groove broad, narrowed posteriorly, entirely free 

 from scales; opercle with 4 or 5 rows of scales besides numerous small 

 ones at its anterior edge; gill rakers short and weak, 11 below the angle; 

 dorsal spines rather strong and stiff, second and third subequal in length, 

 the second much the stronger, at least not longer than third, its length If 

 in length of head; upper margin of dorsal fin falcate; second and third 

 anal spines subequal, the second much the stronger, its length If in length 

 of head; least depth of caudal peduncle 2^ in length of head; pectoral 

 as long as head, not nearly reaching front of anal, 3 to 3 in body. Color 

 silvery gray, with bluish reflections, darker above, a dark streak along 

 each row of scales, most conspicuous on upper part of body; fins all dusky 

 except pectorals, which are pale; dorsal and anal blackish on their 

 margins; a dark supraorbital spot; axil dusky; ventrals more or less 

 dusky. Length a foot. Cuba to Bahia, generally common ; here described 

 from a specimen from Havana. The species is extremely close to G. 

 lineatm and is doubtfully distinct. On comparison of specimens we note 

 no difference except those mentioned in the analysis of species, and these 

 are probably not constant. 



Gerres brasilianus,* CUVIER & VALENCIENNES, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vi, 458, 1830, Brazil ; 

 Porto Rico; EVERMANN & MEEK, L c., 268 ; JORDAN, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1890, 321. 

 Gerres patao, POEY, Memorias, u, 320, 1868, Havana. 



* A specimen from Brazil, typical of Gerres brasilianus, shows the following characters: 

 Eye 3 in head; second dorsal spine about If in head. Ventral not black, but dusky 

 shaded ; soft rays of dorsal and anal also peppered with dark points ; pectoral a little more 

 than head, not quite to vent, 3 in body; second anal 1 in head, equals 3 in length but 

 shorter, 4 in body; second anal spine a little longer and ventral paler than in Cuban 

 specimens (patao.) 



