468 



CONTRIBUTION TO THE 



Color dark reddish brown ; distal halves of the lins, except vcntrals, black, with narrow yellow margin. Tho- 

 rax, chin, and jaws brown punctate. Sides with irregular palo brown spots, not extending on fins and belly. Dor- 

 sal region and head ini maculate. 



Length ten inches. The two opercular, and one preopercular spines, bilid on one side. 



From St. Martins, W. I. Discovered by R. E. van Rijgcrsma, M. I)., among other interesting Zoological mate- 

 rials. 



Tn determining this species I have had recourse chiefly to the published investigations of Gill, as ho has developed 

 this group more fully than any other zoologist. • 



Elastoma MACEOr-HTnALMUM, Mull. Trosch. Centropristis, M. T. AntMaa, Giinthor. 



St. Kitts, I!. F. Lightfoot. 



Piuacavi ijus maceoi'htiiai.mus, Cuv. Val. Ill, 97 ; Gunther Cat., B. M. V. T, 215. 



St. Croix, II. E. Griffith, M. D. 



Sparidw. 



Ocyurus ciiiiysueus, Bloch, Mesoprion cUrysntrus Auctorum. Ocyurus, Gill. 



St. Martins, Dr. Rijgersma ; New Providence, Dr. Wood ; St. Croix, Dr. R. E. Griffith, Capt. Thos. Davidson. 



Ocyurus ruokbbmaei, Cope, sp. nor, 



A large species, especially notable for the elevated carinafion of its front, and the elongato lobes of the caudal 

 fin. 



Length of head less than depth of body, entering 4.5 times the total length. Depth at orbit equal length to pre- 

 opereulum; eye 5.0G times in length of head— nearly twice in muzzle. A section of the front would be parabolic, as 



Fig. 4, Ocyurus rijgersmaei. Cope, 

 in Coryphaena ; its elevation above the eye is equal to one eye's diameter. The extremity of the maxillary bone 

 does not attain the lino of anterior margin of the orbit. Maxillary scaleless ; cheek with five rows. Preopereulum 

 distinctly openly enrarginatc. Depth of body, one fourth total length ; it is 2. OG times the depth of the caudal pedun- 

 cle, which is thus slender. Scales large, 6— 49 — 15 to. anus. Candal deeply forked ; the forks lanceolate ; the superior 

 longer; both scaled to near the extremity ; its length (to base of superior marginal ray enters the total length 3.3 

 times. Dorsal and anal fins scaleless, radii ; D. XII, 12; A. Ill, 9 ; C. 2.18.2., P. 14. Pectorals falcate, reach- 

 ing vent ; vcntrals three-fourths as long. 



Three short canines on each side ; vomerine patch anchor-shaped ; an oval patch on the tongue. Serration of 

 preopereulum obsolete, except ou angle. 



