664 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [66] 



We find on examination of the origiual type that Professor Oope has 

 mistaken two of the (broken) soft rays of the dorsal and one of the anal 

 for spines. The difference between spines and soft rays in this group is 

 very slight. We therefore regard Cryptotomus as a synonym of Callyo- 

 don Cuvier, and the latter name being ineligible, we adopt Cryptotomus 

 as the name of the genus. 



ANALYSIS OF SPECIES OF CRYPTOTOMUS. 



Common characters. — Lower pharyngeals, upper pharyngeals, isthmus, and lateral 

 line precisely as in Sparisoma ; lateral teeth of upper jaw coalescent into a more or 

 less continuous cutting edge ; the teeth more separate anteriorly ; free posterior 

 canines often present ; anterior teeth separate or coalescent at base only ; lower jaw 

 with a single series of partly coalescent teeth laterally, and two or more series of 

 nearly separate teeth anteriorly; median suture of jaws not evident externally; 

 dorsal spines flexible ; jaws subequal ; scales about head large, a single row on cheeks, 

 four or five on median line before dorsal. Species of small size, mostly of dull or 

 olivaceous coloration. 



a. Posterior canines normally present (occasionally wanting on one side or both in 

 some species). 

 b. Lateral teeth of lower jaw arranged in a series continuous with the anterior 

 teeth (thus: UUU\\\U\\\\\l\IU) - 

 c. Snout long and sharp, 2 in head ; the profile somewhat unevenly convex ; upper 

 lip double only posteriorly ; posterior canines two, strong, recurved ; 

 anterior canines strong; teeth of lower jaw not very unequal, the 

 anterior teeth a little longer than the middle ones, the posterior teeth 

 little enlarged ; fins rather high ; head 3| ; depth 3| ; eye 5£ in head. 

 Color in alcohol, olivaceous, the fins much mottled, the sides of the 

 body with conspicuous pale spots; in life, u greenish, the scales yellow at 

 base, their edges bluish ; vertical fins whitish, with rosy vertical spots ; 



caudal wine-color, with bluish vertical markings." Dentiens, 76. 



cc. Snout shortish, its length (measured along the axis) nearly 3 in head; pro- 

 file strongly convex above eye, thence nearly straight to tip of snout; pos- 

 terior canine usually single, very strong ; anterior canines two on each 

 side, divergent, directed forward and outwards ; lateral teeth of lower 

 jaw very unequal, the posterior much larger than those near the middle 

 of the side of the jaw which are wholly coalescent; eye 6 in head, its 

 distance from angle of mouth about twice its diameter; upper lip 

 double for its whole length; depth 3; caudal truncate. Color in 

 spirits, olive-green, each scale with a faint brown central blotch ; head 

 nearly plain ; vertical fins greenish, blotched with brown, the mem- 

 branes of the first two spines blackish Retkactus, 77. 



bb. Lateral teeth of lower jaw subequal, arranged in two rows which are not par- 

 allel, the posterior teeth of the anterior series standing below and out- 

 side the anterior teeth of the posterior series (thus: mmmiiiim )• 

 d. Posterior canine usually preceded by two or three smaller ones ; upper lip 

 double for its whole length; profile slightly convex above eye and 

 somewhat concave before it; snout long, 2£ in head; distance from 

 eye to angle of mouth 3 in head, and 2f times diameter of eye ; eye 

 small, 6$- in head ; anterior canines about 4 on each side, strong and 

 divergent ; lower teeth larger than in other species ; head 3 in length; 

 depth 3. Color, in spirits, olive-gray, with irregular marblings of slaty 

 gray ; four diffuse dark blotches along base of dorsal ; dorsal olive, 

 finely mottled with darker cross-lines, the membrane of tlie first two 

 spines black ; caudal and anal plain olive Ustus, 78. 



