f)32 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [34] 



32. DECODON PUELLARIS. 



Cossyplius pudlaris Poev, Memorias Cuba, ii, 210, 1860 (Havana). 



Decodon puellaris Guuther, iv, 101,1802 (Barbadoes); Poey, Synopsis, 332, 1868; 

 Poey, Enumeratio, 107, 1875 (Havana) ; Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mns., 1884, 

 545 (Pensacola) ; Cat. Fish. N. Am,, 1885, 98 (Pensacola). 



Habitat. — West Indies. 



Etymology: Puellaris, pretty, from puella, girl. 



This small species is not uncommon at Havana. The two specimens 

 examined by us were taken from the stomachs of groupers in deep 

 water in the Gulf of Mexico. 



Genus XT.— TROCHOCOPUS. 



« 



Trochocopus Glinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mas., iv., 1862, 100 (opcrcularis) 

 Pimelometopon Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phil., 1864, 58 (pnlcher). 



Type : Trochocopus opercularis Giinther (East Indies). 



Etymology : Tpoyoq, wheel, or a runner ; xoxoq, pain (?) weariness. 



This genus is close to Harpe, differing chiefly in tke naked dorsal 

 and smaller scales. It is divisible into two well-marked subgenera on 

 the size of the scales, Trochocopus and Pimelometopon. 



ANALYSIS OF AMERICAN SPECIES OF TROCHOCOPUS. 



a. Scales of moderate size, 45 to 50 in the lateral line. (Troclwcopus) . 

 b. [Body moderately elongate ; highest at the occiput in the adult male ; preopercle 

 entire; cheeks and opercles scaly ; head compressed ; mouth large; canines 

 | ; posterior canine evident ; a smaller one before it ; a row of smaller teeth 

 in each jaw behind the canines ; spinous dorsal very low ; second dorsal and 

 anal elevated ; longest spine 2| in longest soft ray, the latter nearly equal to 

 head; pectoral moderate, obliquely truncate; ventrals pointed, inserted be- 

 hind pectorals; no scaly sheath at base of dorsal. Head 4; depth 4; D. 

 XII, 9 ; A. Ill, 12 ; scales 45 to 50 ; length m. .03 ; color uniform black, except 

 a large orange blotch above the pectoral fins.] (Philippi.) 



Maculatus, 33. 



33. TROCHOCOPUS MACULATUS. 



(Peje-Perro.) 



Dentex maculatus Perez, "Estudio sobre los Escualos de la Costa de Chile," about 



1886, p. 11 (Valparaiso). 

 Trochocopus canis Philippi, Sobre los Tiburones, etc., de Chile, 1887, 38, lam. vii, 



fig. 3 (Iquique). 



Habitat. — Coast of Chili. 



Etymology : Latin maculatus, spotted. 



We know this species from the account given by Dr. Philippi. Tin 

 fact that Dr. Perez curiously -mistook this fish for a Sparoid does nol 

 justify Dr. Philippi in setting aside the specific name proposed by tin 

 latter. 



