2150 Bulletin 4.7, United States National Museum. 



PEIONOTUS : 



aa. Mouth comparatively large, the maxillary 2 to 2| in the length of head, the mandible 

 extending backward to opposite eye, or nearly so; usually no distinct cross 

 groove on top of head ; free rays of pectoral tapering, not expanded at tip ; black 

 blotch on spinous dorsal diffuse, not ocellated, involving the membranes of more 

 than two spines. 



.j Preopercular spine without a distinct smaller spine at its base in front. 

 k. Pectoral fins very long, reaching at least to beyond the second third of the soft 



dorsal. 



Z. Scales rather small, about 75 pores in lateral line ; head large, comparatively 

 smooth, the interorbital area narrow, concave, not f diameter of eye; orbital 

 rim low, scarcely serrate ; preorbital serrulate ; pectoral fin long, reaching 

 middle of anal; coloration plain, slightly clouded; form rather slender; head 

 2f ; depth 4. D. X-12 ; A. 11. MILES, 2488. 



II. Scales moderate, 50 to 55 pores in lateral line. 



in. Head large, nearly plane above, the interorbital space scarcely concave, its 

 width equal to eye; snout very short, 2 in head; maxillary 2 in head, 

 reaching past front of orbit; bands of palatine teeth very narrow; bones 

 of head smoothish, little striate; gill rakers rather long, about 10 below 

 angle; first dorsal spine slightly rough in front, the third spine nearly \ the 

 length of the head; caudal slightly concave; pectoral reaching ninth anal 

 ray, its outline rounded; scales about 55. Color pale olivaceous, back 

 and sides with a few dark spots; second dorsal with 3 rows of black spots; 

 caudal with 3 rows of dark blotches; pectorals with round dark blotches. 



D. X-12; A. 11. STEPHANOPHEYS, 2489. 



mm. Head not plane above, the interorbital space more or less concave ; dorsal 



spines 10. 



71. Supraorbital cirrus wanting. 



o. Pectoral fins moderate, not reaching in adult beyond dorsal and anal. 

 p. Interorbital space moderately concave, its width nearly equal to eve; 

 orbital rim little elevated; preorbital -with 15 to 20 fine serra3, the last 

 one directed backward; preopercular spine long. QUIESCENS, 2490. 

 pp. Interorbital space very narrow, deeply concave, its width about f 

 length of eye ; rim elevated and serrate ; preorbital with about 20 

 small serr3, blunt and even; head well armed; snout and jaws 

 white. ALBIROSTRIS, 2491. 



oo. Pectorals very long, reaching in adult beyond base of dorsal and anal ; inter- 

 orbital space moderately concave, its width about f length of eye ; no 

 cirrus above the eye ; distance from supraocular spine to nuchal scales 

 about equal to eye; supraocular and nuchal spines low; occipital 

 spines wanting; temporal ridge sharp, ending in a blunt spine; pre- 

 orbital projecting, strongly serrate; a blunt spine on each side of 

 snout, behind serra) of preorbital; a blunt spine behind this above 

 angle of mouth; no spine on cheekbone in adult; upper opercular 

 spine almost obsolete; bones of head rather strongly striate, but not 

 granulate; gill rakers short; mouth moderate; scales rather large; 

 about 52 pores. D. X-ll ; A. 10. First dorsal spine not much shorter 

 than second, which is 2 in head; caudal very slightly concave; ven- 

 trals reaching a little past vent; head 3; depth 5. Color nearly plain 

 brownish, with darker clouds ; no distinct spots anywhere on body or 

 fins; the pectorals marbled with paler. EUBIO, 2492. 



Tin. Supraorbital cirrus present, fringed. Interorbital space very deeply con- 

 cave, its width about f length of eye ; a fringed cirrus above the eye ; 

 distance from supraocular spine to nuchal scales about $ the eye; occipi- 

 tal as well as nuchal spines distinct; temporal ridge with a small spine; 

 no spine on cheek bone; bones of the head with fine, sharply defined 

 striae, but no granulations; upper opercular spine well developed; 



