180 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Diagnosis. — This species may be readily distinguished from L. Black- 

 fordii by its different color, lower and less compressed body, shorter 

 head, shorter pectorals and ventrals, and by other characters which 

 appear in the table of measurements. 



Body similar to that of L. Blacltfordii in shape. It greatest height 

 equals length of head, twice length of mandible, and twice that of ven- 

 tral. Its height at ventrals equals four times width of interorbital area. 

 Least height of tail equals first anal ray and twice the last dorsal ray. 

 Greatest length of head equals greatest height of body, twice length of 

 mandible, and twice ventral length. The width of interorbital area 

 equals one fourth of height at ventrals and two-thirds of least height 

 of tail. Length of snout equals second anal ray. Length of maxillary 

 equals twice length of second dorsal spine, which equals second anal 

 spine. The mandible equals the ventral in length. Eye contained 

 slightly more than six times in greatest length of head. 



Distance of dorsal from snout equals three times, and base of spinous 

 dorsal twice length of snout. First dorsal spine about equal to tirst 

 anal. Second dorsal spine equals second anal and twice first anal. 



Longest dorsal spine (fourth) equals one-third of greatest length of 

 head. Last dorsal spine about equal to half distance from snout to 

 centre of orbit. Base of soft dorsal equals three times second spine of 

 dorsal. First ray of dorsal equals three-fourths of first anal ray, which 

 equals least height of tail. Longest dorsal ray (fourth) equals twice 

 diameter of eye, and the last equals half of least height of tail. 



Distance of anal from snout equals slightly more than six times least 

 height of tail; its length of base somewhat exceeds length of second 

 anal ray. t First anal spine equals half the second, which is half the 

 length of upper jaw. Third anal spine equals half second anal ray, 

 which equals length of snout. First anal ray equals least height of 

 tail; second equals length of snout, and last equals half length of snout. 



Middle caudal rays equal one-sixth and superior external rays one- 

 fourth of total length. Inferior external rays slightly less than length 

 of pectoral. 



Distance of pectoral from snout about equal to length of head. Its 

 length almost twice least height of tail. 



Distance of ventral from suout nearly three times length of snout ; its 

 length equals half length of head. 



Radial Formula.— V. VII ; D. X, 14 ; A. Ill, 8 ; 0. + 17 + 5 P. 1, 15; 

 V. I, 5. 



Scales. — 6, 45, 14. 



Color. — General color scarlet below, shading into reddish or purplish 

 brown above. Plum color on sides and top of head. Below the lateral 

 line, the posterior half of the exposed portion of the scales is white tinted 

 with scarlet; the basal portion reddish and much darker. Under part 

 of head light scarlet. Vertical fins darker than the body. Pectoral 

 and ventral white roseate. 



