DR. GUNTHER ON THE FISHES OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 411 
The colour is purplish grey, with numerous dark spots about as large as the pupil; 
those of the pectoral and caudal fins are smaller and more crowded, of the dorsal, anal, 
and ventral more like those of the body. 
The specimens are from 11 to 15 inches long, and were found by Capt. Dow at 
Panama. 
We have received also a sma//er example, 5 inches long, from the same gentleman. It 
differs from those described above in being provided with five cross bands, paler in colour 
than the spots, which are one-third the size of the eye. The dorsal fin is scarcely 
notched, the tenth spine being but little shorter than the third or fourth, the length of 
which is contained twice and two-thirds in that of the head. The example being 
young, its eye is comparatively larger. 
14, PLecrropoMa arruM. (PI. LXVIL. fig. 3.) 
Epinephelus afer, Bloch, Tat. 327 (fide Peters, Monatsber. Ak. Wiss. Berlin, 1865, p. 105). 
Alphestes afer, Bl. Schn. p. 236. 
Plectropoma chloropterum, Cuy. & Val. ii. p. 398. Poey, Mem. Cub. i. p. 73, lam. 9. fig. 3. 
monacanthus, Mull. & Trosch. in Schomb. Hist. Barb. p. 605. Giinth. Fish. i. p. 164. 
multiguttatum, Giinth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1866, p. 600. 
Dy | ANS Il lat! 76. 
Caudal rounded. ‘The height of the body is equal to the length of the head, and 
contained twice and three-fourths in the total (without caudal). The diameter of the 
eye is one-fifth of the length of the head, and a little less than that of the snout. 
Preoperculum with a strong spinous tooth below the angle, pointing forwards. Olive- 
brown, head and body with numerous spots. 
Description —Body somewhat elevated ; its greatest height is below the fourth spine 
of the dorsal, and equal to the length of the head, which is contained thrice and one- 
third in the total (the caudal included). The distance between the dorsal and the 
caudal is contained seven times and one-third in the length of the base of the 
dorsal fin, twice in that of the base of the anal, four times in the distance between the 
dorsal fin and the snout, and is considerably less than the least depth of the tail. The 
distance between the eyes is about two-thirds of the diameter of the eye, and covered with 
scales which extend forward beyond the nostrils on the preorbital, and in a narrow 
band on the upper maxillary. The length of the snout equals the diameter of the 
eye, which is one-fifth of the length of the head. The maxillary reaches a little beyond 
the level of the posterior margin of the eye. ‘The mandibulary is covered with minute 
scales, and is equal to one-half the length of the head. ‘The lips are thick and fleshy. 
The posterior limb of the preoperculum slants obliquely backwards, and is minutely 
serrated, the denticulations becoming coarser at the angle; and beneath on the lower 
limb at some distance from the other teeth there is a single strong tooth pointing 
downwards, and nearly concealed by the skin; sub- and interoperculum not serrated. 
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