228 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
to soft dorsal, spines strong, ventrals very large, thoracic, i, 5, close together, in advance of base of 
pectoral, joined to belly by a membrane which incloses a groove; no axillary process; spine strong; 
pectoral small, pointed, not symmetrical, of 19 or 20 rays, the upper longest; caudal fin truncate or 
lunate; spines of fins generally rough, with small seme; air-bladder large; pyloric coeca few; verte- 
brae in reduced number, 9 or 10 -)- 13 = 22 or 23, the first vertebra being very small or absent; trans- 
verse process beginning on seventh (sixth) vertebra, the last 2 precaudal bridged across; ribs attached 
to the transverse processes; epipleurals absent on last 3 precaudal vertebrae; supraoccipital crest very 
low, continued forward to over front of orbit, w'here it is joined by the parietal crests; processes of 
premaxillaries moderate. Carnivorous fishes of the tropical seas, chiefly in deep waters; mostly rose- 
colored in life. The family is a sharply defined group, not close to any other, but the affinities on the 
whole seem to be nearest to the Serraniclx and their tropical allies. Genera 2, species about 10. 
Only 1 genus, with 3 species, known from the Hawaiin Islands. 
Genus 129. PRIACANTHTJS Cuvier. 
Scales very small, 80 to 100 in the lateral line; body oblong, more than twice as long as deep; 
preopercle with a spine at angle; interorbital area externally transversely convex, the cranium itself 
transversely concave, the elevation being formed of flesh; a conspicuous foramen in the interorbital 
area; lateral line extending upward and backward from upper angle of gill-opening toward second 
dorsal spine, below which it changes its course, following outline of back to end of dorsal fin, thence 
direct to middle of caudal; anal fin rather long, its rays about in, 14; dorsal rays about x, 13. 
Species rather numerous in the tropical seas; 3 known from Hawaii. 
Priacanthm Cuvier, Rdgne Animal. Ed. 1, II, 281, 1817 ( macrophtalmus ). 
a. Scales relatively large, 85 to 90 in lateral line alalaua, p. 228 
aa. Seales small, 100 or more in lateral line. 
b. Scales about 11-100-53; head about 3 in leng th to base of caudal; interorbital comparatively wide, 3.4 in eye; gillrakers 
about 20 below angle eruentatus, p. 229 
bb. Scales smaller, about 12-115-45; head shorter, about 3.4 in length to base of caudal; interorbital narrow, about 4 in 
eye; gillrakers about 27 below angle mccki , p. 231 
175. Priacanthus alalaua Jordan & Evermann. “Alalaua',” “Alalauwa.” Fig. 93. 
Head 3.2 in length; depth 2.65; eye 2.4 in head; snout 3.6; maxillary 2; interorbital 3.8; D. x, 14; 
A. in, 15; scales 13-85 to 90-45, 70 pores; Br. 6; gillrakers about 22 on lower arm. 
Bod-y short, deep, compressed, ovate; upper profile of head nearly straight; snout very blunt; 
mandible prominent, produced; mouth very oblique; teeth small, sharp, in bands on jaws, vomer, and 
palatines; tongue rounded, free in front; maxillary reaching almost to front margin of pupil, its greatest 
width 2 in eye; edge of preopercle finely serrate, with a sharp, flat, serrated spine directed backward 
at angle; margins of interopercle, subopercle, v and opercle entire; opercle with an obscure flat, spine; 
interorbital space slightly convex; eye very large, its lower edge a little above base of pectoral and in 
line with axis of body; nostrils small, close together, the anterior with elevated rim; posterior nostril 
oblong, with broad flap; gillrakers rather slender, about 22 on longer arm of first arch, longest about 
3 in eye; origin of spinous dorsal over upper base of pectoral; dorsal spines rather uniform, the 
longest about equal to orbit; soft portion of dorsal somewhat elevated, rounded, fourth ray 1.7 in 
head; anal spines rather stronger than those of dorsal, third the longest, 1.1 in orbit; soft portion of 
anal similar to that of soft dorsal, rays of about equal length; caudal truncate, the middle rays slightly 
greater than orbit; pectoral short, bluntly pointed, not reaching tip of ventral, length 1.4 in head; 
ventrals longer, just reaching base of second anal spine, their length 1.2 in head; ventral spine about 
l. 25 in longest ray, or 1.7 in head; scales small, firm, and rugose, those of lateral line somewhat 
enlarged; entire head, as well as body, densely scaled; lateral line rising abruptly for 6 or 7 pores 
from gill-opening, thence concurrent with back to caudal peduncle. 
Color in life, silvery, light olive above, sdrnewhat flushed with red in irregular blotches; chin red; 
spinous dorsal olive-yellowish, especially on edge; ventrals black, rays whitish; fins unspotted. 
Young of 4 inches in length are dirty gray, browner above, with no trace of red in life; some brown 
spots along lateral line; fins dusky, anal and ventral darkest; iris a little brownish-red. 
Color in alcohol, plain yellowish-white; spinous dorsal and anal somewhat dusky; ventral mem- 
