440 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
4, LUTJIANUS NOVEMFASCIATUS. (Pargo Prieto.) 
Lutjanus novemfasciatus Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862, 251 (Cape San Lucas, 
very young); Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. N. M. 1881; ibid, 1. c,, 1882, 360 
and 365 (Cape San Lucas, Panama); ibid, Bull. U. S. F.C. 1882, 107, 110, 
112 (Mazatlan, Panama, Punta Arenas); Jordan & Swain, 1. c., 1884, 443; 
Evermann & Jenkins, Proc. U. S. N. M. 1891, 146 (Guaymas). 
Mesoprion pacificus Bocourt, Ann. Sci. Nat. Paris, p. 223, 1568 (Tauesco, Pacifie coast 
of Guatemala). 
Lutjanus pacificus, Vaillant & Bocourt, Mission Scientifique au Mexique, 1881 (?), 123, 
pl. (?) um, f. 2. 
Lutjanus pricto Jordan & Gilbert, Proce. U. S. N. M. 1881, 232, 338, 353, 355 (San 
Blas, Mazatlan); Jordan & Gilbert, 1. ¢., 1882, 360, 361 (Cape San Lucas). 
Habitat: Pacific coast of tropical Ameriea. 
Etymology: Novem, nine; fasciatus, banded, a character seen only in 
the very young. 
This large fish is the Pacific representative of Lutjanus cyanopterus, 
to which it bears a strong resemblance. In fact, except for the slightly 
smaller mouth of L. noremfasciatus, the two species are scarcely dis- 
tinguishable. It is generally common on the Pacific coast of tropical 
America, and at Mazatlan it is known as pargo prieto. It was first 
described from very young specimens, which bear little resemblance to 
the adult, although comparisons of specimens have assured us of their 
identity. The nine crossbands, which suggested the inappropriate 
specific name of novemfusciatus, are characteristic only of the very 
young. The name Mesoprion pacificus was overlooked by Jordan and 
Gilbert, who published the first satisfactory account of the species 
under the name of Lutjanus prieto. 
5. LUTJANUS CYANOPTERUS. (Cubera.) 
Mesoprion cyanopterus Cuv. & Val., 11, 472, 1828 (Brazil); Jordan, Proc. U. . N. M. 
1886, 534 (examination of type). 
Lutjanus cyanopterus, Jordan & Swain, |. c., 534. 
? Mesoprion pargus Cuv. & Val , 11, 473, 1828 (Puerto Rico). 
Mesoprion cynodon Poey, Repertorio, 11, 268, 1868; Poey, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 
1863, 185 (Cuba; not of Cuv. & Val.). 
Lutjanus cynodon Poey, Synopsis, 1868, 294. 
Lutjanus cubera Poey, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y., 75, 1871 (Cuba); Poey, Exumeratio, 
1875, 27; Jordan & Swain, 1. ¢., 442 (Havana). 
Lutjanus dentatus (A. Duméril), Vaillant & Bocourt, Miss. Sci. au Mex., 1881, 125 
(Brazil); Jordan, 1. c. (examination of type) 
Habitat: Pacific coast of tropical America. 
Etymology: zvdveus, blue; zrepdy, fin. 
This species is common in the markets of Havana, where it is known 
as cubera. It grows to a very considerable size, and specimens of less 
than 5 pounds weight are very rare in the markets. But one specimen 
was obtained by Prof. Jordan, no others small enough to be readily 
preserved in alcohol being seen. A specimen from Carthagena, United 
States of Colombia, is in the museum at Cambridge. The species seems 
to have an indifferent reputation as a food-fish, being often unwhole- 
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