676 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [78] 



95. SPARISOMA ABILDGAARDI. 



Vieja Parra, Descr. Dif. Piezas Hist. Nat., 1787, 58, pi. 28, f. 2 (Cuba). 



Scams abildgaardi Bloch, Ichthyol., taf. 259, 1791 ("America," from a specimen sent 

 by Prof. Abildgaard) ; Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss., iv, 55, 163, 1802 (copied). 



Scarus abildgaardi Cuv. & Val., xiv, 175, 1839 (St. Thomas, Bahia); Giinther, iv, 

 209 (Puerto Cabello) ; Guichenot, Scaride's, Mus. Paris, 10 (Bahia, San Do- 

 mingo); Poey, Repertorio, i, 371, 1867, ii, 160; Poey, Synopsis, 337 ; Poey, 

 Enumeratio, iii ; Cope, Trans. Am. Pbilos. Soc, 1871, 461 (St. Croix, St. 

 Martin's). 



Sparisoma abildgaardi Swainson, Nat. Hist. Class'n, Fishes, etc., ii, 1839, 227; Jordan 

 & Swaiu, Proc. U. S. Nat, Mus., 1884, 97 (Havana) ; Jordan, Proc. U. S. 

 Nat. Mus., 1886, 47 (Havana). 



Scarus coccineus Bloch &. Schueider, Syst. Ichthyol., 1801, 289 (after Parra) ; Cuvier, 

 Regue Animal, 1829, Ed. ii. 



Scarus aureoruber Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss., iv, 55, 163, 1803 (on a drawing by 

 Plumier). 



Scarus amplm Ranzani, "Nov. Comm. Acad. Scient. Inst. Bonon. t. 5, p. 324, pi. xxv, 

 1842" (fide Guichenot). 



Scarus erythrinoides Guichenot, Scarides, Mus. Paris, 10, 1865 (San Domingo). 



Scarus oxybrachius Poey, Synopsis, 1868, 342 (Cuba) ; Poey, Enumeratio, 115, lam. 14, 

 f. 2. 



Habitat. — West Indies. 



Etymology : Named for Abildgaard, professor in the University of 

 Copenhagen. 



Several specimens of this species were obtained at Havana, where it 

 is not uncommon. We have also seen specimens from St. Thomas and 

 St. Lucia. 



This is evidently the original Spams abildgaardi of Bloch. The Scarus 

 coccineus of Bloch & Schneider seems to belong certainly here. The 

 description given by Guichenotof his Scarus erythrinoides Ms our speci- 

 mens weU ; better than his account of Scarus abildgaardi. We do not 

 see that Poey's Scarus oxybrachius can be different. The sharpness of 

 the pectoral is probably merely accidental. The pectoral is a little 

 longer in proportion to the head in this species than in most others, but 

 this difference seems to be due to the fact that the head is rather 

 shorter. 



The description of Scarus ampins we have not seen. 



95b. SPARISOMA DISTINCTUM. 



Scarus distinctus Poey, Mem., ii, 423, 1860 ; Poey Repertorio, ii, 163 ; Poey, Syn., 341 ; 



Poey, Enum., 114 (Havana). 

 Scarus frondosus Giinther, iv, 210 (Cuba; Jamaica; Trinidad; Brazil). 



Habitat. — West Indian fauna. 



Etymology : Distinctus, distinct. 



A type of Scarus distinctus Poey is in the National Museum. It 

 agrees with the species called in this paper Sparisoma frondosum, dif- 

 fering only in the presence of a posterior canine and in the more sharply 

 defined coloration. It is probable that it belongs to the same species, 

 but in view of the uncertainty, I here give Sparisoma distinctum place 



