Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 1423 



anal spine, the much more distinct dark lines, the less nearly vertical 

 mouth, the back more steeply arched, the darker color of the gill cavity. 

 In some cases the direction of the rows of scales on the back is more 

 nearly vertical, but in this there are great variations. West coast of Mex- 

 ico and Central America, from Sonora to Panama ; not rare on sandy shores. 

 Length 4f to 6| inches. Described from numerous specimens from San 

 Juan Lagoon, Sonora, and from Panama, (accliris, steeply ascending, 

 referring to the direction of the rows of scales above lateral line.) 



Larimus accliois, JORDAN & BRISTOL, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1897, San Juan Lagoon, 

 Sonora. (Coll. Albatross. Type, No. 45, L. S. Jr. Univ. Mus.) 



1803. LARIMUS BREVICEPS, Cuvier & Valenciennes. 



(CABEZON.) 



Head 3f ; depth 3; eye 4 in head. D. X-I, 28; A. II, 6; scales 7 (count- 

 ing from third dorsal spine obliquely backward) 48-9. Body robust; the 

 profile less convex than in L. acclivis. Width of head 2 in its length; 

 snout short, 5 in head. Cleft of mouth approaching a perpendicular much 

 more nearly than in L. aculivis; the lower jaw less convex; maxillary 

 2 in head. Teeth minute, firm, uniserial in each jaw. Interorbital 

 region convex, 4 in head and 1 in eye. Gill rakers about 10 + 20, long and 

 slender, the longest 1^ in head; least depth of caudal peduncle 3 in 

 head. Scales as in />. accliris, excepting that in our specimens the rows 

 above the lateral line are rather more horizontal and therefore fewer in 

 number than in some specimens of L. acdiris. Origin of spinous dorsal 2 

 in origin of soft dorsal and If in head ; third dorsal spine If in head ; 

 second anal spine If in head, reaching to tip of longest soft ray; ventrals 

 1^ in head ; pectoral as long as head. Color silvery, brown above, clear 

 white silvery below ; the rows of scales above with dark streaks, these 

 much less distinct than in L. acclivis ; a brownish axillary spot ; region 

 about pseudobrnnrhi.i' but little dusky; lower part of mouth, and 

 sides of mouth on upper jaw orange; tip of tongue and end of lower 

 mandible dusky ; fins dusky; spinous dorsal darker; ventrals yellowish ; 

 upper part of pectoral dusky. Length 10 inches. West Indies, south to 

 Brazil. Here described from a specimen collected by the Albatross from 

 St. Lucia and from a specimen in the U. S. National Museum from Kings- 

 ton, Jamaica, (brevis, short; -ceps, head.) 



Larimus breviceps, CUVIER & VALENCIENNES, Hist. Nat. Poiss., v, 146, pi. 140, 1830, 

 Brazil ; San Domingo ; GUNTHER, Cat., n, 268, 1860 ; GUNTHER, Fishes Central America, 

 387 and 425, 1869; BEAN & DRESSEL, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1884, 158; JORDAN & EIGEN- 

 MANN, L c., 375, 1889, in part, Atlantic specimens. 



? Monosira stahli,* POEY, Fauna Puerto Riqueiia, 326, pi. 6, 1881, Puerto Rico. 



Larimus stahli, JORDAN & EIGENMANN, I. c., 376, 1889. 



*Monosira stahli, POEY, seems identical with L. breviceps. The following is the sub- 

 stance of Poey's description : 



Head 3$: depth 3; ey. 3 ; snout 5. D. X-I, 25; A. II, 5. Body deep, snout short, the 

 profile descending forward; mouth large, maxillary 2 in head, lower mandible produced 

 and curved, a pore on each side of the symphysis; gill rakers long and slender: teeth 

 uniserial. numerous and very small, those of the lower jaw slightly larger; pectorals 

 lanceolate, reaching bevond Vent, slightly longer than head; second anal spine long, 

 nearly 2 in head. Color white, with faint streaks, but without vertical dark bars. Porto 

 Rico.' (Named for Dr. Agnstin Stahl, of Puerto Rico, of whose collection ot fishes this 

 species formed a part.) 



