Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 1565 



small dots continue to the end of the dorsal fin, describing a curve which 

 exactly outlines the extent to which scales cover the base of the articulate 

 dorsal rays ; a conspicuous blue spot or bar crosses top of caudal peduncle 

 close to the posterior insertion of dorsal fin. One or more small blue spots 

 at base of caudal. The spine of first ray of ventral blue; spines and tips 

 of anterior rays of anal blue; a nearly round blue spot on posterior 

 part of anal near its base. Sides of body more or less dotted with blue, as 

 are also the cheeks and opercles. Pectorals and caudal semitransparent, 

 plain reddish. Ground color of anal, bright red. Dorsal fin dusky, with 

 minute blue dots anterior to the markings mentioned. Abdomen and 

 under surface of the head lighter, immaculate. 



"The description is made from specimens If to 2 inches long. Speci- 

 mens less than 1 inch long have the spinous dorsal almost wholly blue and 

 all the markings larger, while an individual 3 inches long shows the 

 markings similarly placed but relatively smaller, and the ground color is 

 more olivaceous. 



''The fin rays are proportionately higher and the eye relatively larger 

 than in the adult. The suborbital and preopercle are without serrations. 

 The small opercular spine, unlike that of the mature form, is smooth and 

 wholly without denticulations. The greatest depth of the body is about 

 \ the length. 



"These brilliant little fishes inhabit only large, deep, rock pools, hiding 

 under the sea-weed of ledges, and frequently swimming out into the open 

 water of the pool. They are accompanied by the adult, the usual uniform 

 scarlet color of which appears a distinct lusterless yellow in the water. 



"The specimens described were taken at La Jolla, near San Diego." 



Coast of California south of Point Concepcion ; common in clear waters 

 about rocky islands from Point Concepcion to Todos Santos Bay. A hand- 

 some fish, reaching a length of 14 inches; of some value as food. (ruM- 

 cundus, red.) 



Glyphisodon rubicundus, GIRARD, Proo. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1854, 148, Monterey, California 

 (Coll. Lieut. W. P. Trowbridge) ; GIRARD, U. S. Pacific K. R. Snr., x, 161, pi. 29, J858. 



Hypsypops rubicundus, GILL, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1861, 165, and 1863, 218. 



Parma rubicunda, GUNTHER, Cat., iv, 58, 1862. 



Pomacentrus rubicundus, JORDAN & GILBERT, Synopsis, 610, 1883 ; EOSA SMITH, Proc. U. S. 

 Nat. Mus. 1882, 652; ROSA SMITH, I.e., 1883,234; JORDAN & GILBERT, Proc. U. S. Nat. 

 Mus. 1882, 52. 



626. MICROSPATHODON, Giinther. 



Hicrospathodon, GUNTHER, Cat. Fishes, iv, 35, 1862 (chrysurus). 

 Pomalaprion, GILL, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1863, 216 (dorsalis). 



Body deep, compressed ; head wide ; mouth rather large, with transverse 

 cleft; lower jaw shorter than upper, its teeth confined to its anterior por- 

 tion; teeth in 1 series in each jaw, all movable; upper teeth narrow, 

 entire; lower broader, also entire; preorbital very broad, with a deep 

 notch between nostril and maxillary; lower limit of preopercle scaled; 

 snout scaled almost to the lips ; soft dorsal and anal fins with median rays 

 elevated; caudal forked; coloration very brilliant. Herbivorous fishes of 

 the rocky islands of the Tropics, the known species all American. 

 small; tindbrf, sheath; 6<5ot>, tooth.) 



