ICHTHYOLOGY OF THE LESSER ANTILLES. 



467 



Color saffron yellow, becoming orange on the caudal, anal and vertical fins. Dorsal region becoming brownish 

 anteriorly. A narrow blue band from front of orbit posteriorly on cheek, an 1 some small blue spots on side of muzzle ; 

 a narrow blue lino along upper edge of preoperculum ; two faint vertical lines, on perculum. Dorsal and opectoral 

 fins and jaws saffron yellow. 



This brilliant species was found it at St. Martins, W. I. by Dr. B. E. van Rijgersma. 



Alfiiestes monacantiius. Mull. Trosch. 



Flectropoma, Gthr., Catal I. 104. Prospinus cUoropterm, Poey, Synopsis, 304, Pristipoma cJiloropterum, 

 Cuv., Val. AlpJiestes afer, Bloch, Fide, Peters. 



St. Martins, Dr. R. E. van Rijgersma. 

 Rhypticcs safonaceus, C. Val., Gill, Proo. A. N. Sci., Phil., 1861, 52. 



St. Croix, Dr. R. E. Griffith. 

 Eleutiiekactis cotciaceus. Cope, gen. el sp. nov. 



Char. den. Sublam. Rhyptioimc. Dorsal fins entirely separate , dorsal with three spines, anal with none. 



In the species, which is the type of this genus, the dorsal tins are far more distinct than in the Promicropterus 

 maculates, and the membrane between the dorsal spines is very low. As no speoies with 111 spines presents such a 





Fig. 3. Eleutheractis coriaccus. Cope, 

 separation, and it is doubtful whether those possessed of two have not the dorsals more or less confluent, I have 

 regarded this group as distinct from either. 



The allied species, P. decorates, Gill, besides differing much from the P. maculates, in color, has as complete a con- 

 nection between the two dorsal fins as in II. annates. This connection is not wanting in a specimen of Pecula- 

 tes presented to the Acad. Natural Sciences by Dr. Holbrook ; so that the separation of the fins, originally assigned 

 by Gill as the character of his Promioropterus, falls to the ground. This appears to be the opinion of Gill, also, 

 since in his last useful synopsis of the group,* he transfers P. nign V innh, Gill, with united fins, to it, on account ot 



the II dorsal spines. , 



Char. Specif. Lateral line very slightly elevated in front ; twenty-one rows of scales between its convexity and 

 the basis of the first, dorsal ray. Greatest depth 3.33 times in length, including caudal fin. Head narrowed to the 

 muzzle ; front concave; eye anterior; chin very prominent. Eye 5.5 times in length from premaxillary border to 

 end of opercular spine; 1.1 times in muzzle. Posterior angle maxillary, barely to posterior line of eye, poste- 

 riorly Radii D., III., 35 ; A, 15 ; P., 10 ; V., I., 5. Extremities of 2 D. and A. extending to the basis of the caudal fin. 

 Caudal rounded. Pectoral fin expands to a width equal to the length. Second dorsal originating opposite to the end 

 of the pectoral. Scales, 1. tr., 1 19 — 43. 



* Proceed. A. N. Scl.,l'hll„ 1868,188. 



