Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 2167 



ever seen. In spite of the remarkable differences in appearance of the 

 two specimens, there is little reason to doubt their specific identity, as 

 very similar differences distinguish the young and old of P. tribulm. Ac- 

 cording to Mr. Stearns, the large specimen was in life of a bright crimson 

 red. Of all the species of the genus the present one has the spines of the 

 head least developed, its upper surface being almost smooth. (Named for 

 the late Silas Stearns, of Pensacola, long a volunteer assistant to the U. S. 

 Fish Commission, and a most intelligent student of economic questions in 

 marine ichthyology.) 



Prionotus stearnsi, JORDAN & SWAIN, Proc. TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 1884, 541, Pensacola, young 

 (Type, No. 36943. Coll. Silas Stearns) ; JORDAN, Cat. Fish. N. Am., 115, 1885 ; JORDAN, 

 Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1886, 228, adult ; JORDAN & HUGHES, Proc. U. C. Nat. Mus. 1886, 

 335 ; GOODE & BEAN, Oceanic Ichthyology, 466, 1896. 



2495. PRIONOTUS STRIOATUS (Cuvier & Valenciennes). 

 (NORTHERN STRIPED GURNARD; BROWN- WINGED SEA-ROBIN.) 



Head 2f ; depth about 4. D. X-12; A. 11; scales 50 to 60 pores. Body 

 rather robust; head moderately large; preopercular spine with a distinct 

 smaller one at the base. Caudal fin very slightly lunate ; pectoral fin sub- 

 truncate. Cheek bone without distinct spine at the center of radiation; 

 edge of preorbital granular-serrate, without distinct spine, the serrsB about 

 12 in number on each side; temporal ridges roughish, but without spines; 

 bones of the head with the stria? coarsely granular; mouth moderate, the 

 maxillary about 2 in head; head not very broad, the spines on its upper 

 surface, except the nuchal spine, inconspicuous. Gill rakers longer and 

 slenderer than in other species, 15 to 20 developed. Coloration brownish; 

 side with a very distinct dusky bronze baud below the lateral line and 

 parallel with it, this becoming broken posteriorly into a series of roundish 

 dark spots ; some dark streaks and clouds below this stripe ; fins with dark 

 clouds, the soft dorsal with 2 dark blotches, which extend as bars on the 

 back; head with scattered dark spots; dusky area below eye; pectoral 

 with its rays each crossed by fine black bars, these especially distinct 

 toward the base of the fin; free rays spotted; interorbital area broad and 

 almost flat, its width a little more than length of eye; first dorsal spine 

 granulated; second spine 2f in head; pectorals about - the length of the 

 body. Atlantic coast of the Northern States, Cape Cod to Virginia; very 

 common in shallow water. The specimens here described from Marthas 

 Vineyard. It is extremely close to Prionotus evolans, of which it may be 

 a geographical variety. We have, however, as yet seen no intermediate 

 examples, which should be looked for off the coast of Virginia, (strigatus, 

 striped. ) 



Trigla lineata, MITCHILL, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. New York, I, 1814, 430, pi. 4, fig. 4; not 



Trigla lineata, BLOCH. 

 Trigla strigata, CUVIER, Regne Animal, Ed. II, vol. 2, 161, 1829, New York ; after lineata, 



MITCHILL. 

 Prionotus lineatus, DE KAY, New York Fauna: Fishes, 45, pi. 4, fig. 12, 1842; STORER, 



Synopsis, 50, 1846; GUNTHER, Cat., n, 192, 1860. 

 Prionotus evolans var. lineatus, JORDAN & GILBERT, Synopsis, 736, 1883. 



