Paralabrax 



The known species of this genus are confined to the coasts of 

 tropicni America, vvlieie they are important food-fishes. There are 4 

 within oui- limits. Paralabrax uchiilifcr, tlie johnny-verde, occurs on 

 OLir Paciiic coast from Montei'ev to Lower Califoimia. It is generally 

 common in siiallow water, reaches 18 inches in length, and is a food- 

 fish of excellent quality. Its colour is greenish, with irregular pale and 

 dark mottlings and traces of dark oblique cross-bars; suborbital and 

 cheek profusely marked with round orange spots; a dark streak down- 

 ward and backward from eye; lower side of head salmon colour; 

 lower side of tail with wavy whitish streaks. 



The spotted cabrilla, P. maciilatofasciattts, occurs from San Pedro, 

 California, to Mazatlan and in the Gulf of California. It is everywhere 

 common on sandy shores, and is an excellent food-fish, reaching a 

 length of 18 inches. 



Colour, olive-brown, thickly covered everywhere above with dark 

 hexagonal or roundish spots, so close together that the ground colour 

 appears as reticulations around them; these spots more or less con- 

 fluent on the back, and more distinct and tinged with orange on sides 

 of head, branchiostegals, and on base of pectorals; about 7 dusky 

 cross-bars on side, in which the spots are deepei- in colour and more 

 confluent; a bluish stripe from eye across cheek; lower parts yellow; 

 dorsal and caudal with bronze spots. 



P. liiimcralis is found from Panama southward. It reaches 2 or 3 

 feet in length, is found in rather deep water, and is a valuable fish. 



P. clathrafiis, the rock-bass of the California coast, occurs from 

 San Francisco southward to Cerros Island. It is the most common 

 species of the genus in those waters, reaches a length of 18 inches and 



39<^ 



