SPAROID FISHES OF AMERICA AND EUROPE. 453 
Habitat: Atlantic coast of tropical America, southern Florida to 
Brazil. 
Etymology: Lpveos, gold; odpd, tail. 
This species is very abundant at Key West, where it is known as 
“yellow-tail.” In Cuba it is perhaps, next to LZ. analis and L. synagris, 
the commonest of the snappers. It is there known as the rabirubia. 
The synonymy of this species offers little difficulty. The earlier 
names, chrysurus, rabirubia, semiluna, seem to admit of no doubt. 
Aurovittatus is admitted as a distinct species by Poey, who has seen it 
but once, and distinguishes it by the absence of yellow spots on the 
back. Without further evidence we can not regard the claims of auro- 
vittatus to distinction as worthy of consideration. The use of the name 
melanurus for this species by Dr. Goode is certainly an error. There 
can be no reasonable doubt of the pertinence of Perca melanura L. to 
Hemulon melanurum (dorsale Poey). We have examined the specimens 
from St. Kitts, described by Prof. Cope under the name of Ocyurus 
rigersmat. These without much doubt are simply brightly-colored 
adults of this species. 
Specimens of this common species are in the museum at Cambridge, 
from Rio Grande del Norte, Rio Janeiro, Ceara, Porto Seguro, and Nas- 
sau. Itis evident from the collections made by A gassiz in Brazil that the 
Lutjanine fishes of that region are identical with those of the West 
Indian fauna. 
IV. RHOMBOPLITES. 
Rhomboplites Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila, 1862, 237.(aurorubens). 
Type: ‘Centropristis aurorubens Cuv. & Val. 
Etymology: gopfes, rhomb; ézdirqc, armed; from the form of the 
vomerine patch of teeth. 
This genus is closely allied to Lutjanus, but the cranial peculiarities 
and extension of the villiform teeth over the pterygoid and hyoid bones 
seem to warrant generic separation. The form of the vomerine patch 
of teeth is also somewhat peculiar. But one species is known. 
ANALYSIS OF SPECIES OF RHOMBOPLITES. 
a. Eye large, 3} to 4 in head; scales small, 10-72-19; gill-rakers numerous, about 18 
below angle; dorsal spines twelve, high and slender; vomerine teeth arranged 
in a (-like patch; lower jaw projecting; preorbital narrow; caudal rather 
deeply forked; color vermilion red, with sinuous golden streaks; fins red; iris 
red. Head,3}; depth,3}. Scales, 10-72-19. D. x11,11; A.111,8. AURORUBENS, 24. 
