BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
160 
deeply notched, the soft portion short, of 11 to 13 rays, and nearly or quite destitute of scales; anal 
short, with slender spines; caudal lunate or truncate. Ventrals not very close together, inserted 
somewhat in advance of pectorals, as in Centropristes and Diplectrum. Vertebree 10 + 14 = 24/ 
Species of small size, probably all American, closely allied to the Old World genus Serranus, from 
which they are distinguished by the short, naked, soft dorsal, the anterior insertion of ventrals, and 
the smaller teeth. Of the 11 known American species only one has been found in Porto Rico. At 
least two other species (P. phcebe and P. tabacarius ) probably occur there. 
Prionodes: 
a. Scales large, 42 to 55 in the lateral line. 
b. Scales on cheek very large, in about 5 series; dorsal spines not quite equal, fourth longest, about twice length of 
ninth. 
c. Teeth unusually strong, 3 or 4 on each side in upper jaw as large as largest lateral teeth; jaws equal; preorbital 
extremely narrow, not one-third width of pupil; preopercle very sharply serrate; gillrakers short, slender, 
x + 10; caudal forked. Color plain-olivaceous; fins all pale; sides with about 6 faint dark crossbands, more or 
less confluent along lateral line : fusculus 
bb. Scales on cheek moderate, in about 8 series; body oblong, heavy anteriorly; dorsal outline a little elevated, profile 
almost straight; lower jaw not projecting; canines small; mouth large; preorbital narrow; dorsal fin not 
notched. 
d. Eye large, equal to snout; gillrakers short, x + 10; caudal deeply lunate; pectoral long. Color light-brownish, 
with lighter blotches and faint dusky bars; a very conspicuous, sharply defined, vertical white bar extending 
upward on each side from just before vent; fins pale jrficebe 
dd. Eye very large, greater than snout; gillrakers short, x + 6; caudal truncate. Color, upper parts scarlet, lower 
parts bluish-white; a yellow lateral band, under which are 4 quadrate black blotches baldwini , 115 
Mentiperca: 
aa. Scales small, lateral line with 00 to 75 in its course. 
e. Lower jaw not very strongly projecting. 
/. Body covered with irregular, inky-black spots and bands. Body long and low, head low and sharp, lower jaw pro- 
jecting; scales on cheek in 10 or 12 rows; teeth small; gillrakers very short, x +7; dorsal low, not notched; 
caudal forked. Color brownish above, sides yellowish, everywhere above, below, and on fins covered with 
irregular inky-black spots, blotches, and bands, latter meeting around belly; pectorals and anal plain; a broad 
ring around base of caudal, and many irregular spots around bases of ventrals and pectorals; numerous black 
spots on dorsals and caudal, one of those on front of spinous dorsal very conspicuous tigrinus 
ff. Body not covered with conspicuous inky-black spots and bands. 
g. Back with 3 or more large, conspicuous blotches of yellowish-white. Body more elongate than in related species; 
lower jaw slightly projecting; scales on cheek in 11 series; dorsal spines low, fifth the longest, 2.25 in head; 
caudal strongly lunate; pectoral and ventrals short. Color brownish-red above, with areas of light yellow on 
sidesof back; one before dorsal; a large one and a small one below spinous dorsal; a large one below last rays 
of soft dorsal; one on back of tail; top of head with 2 pale cross-shades, one before, one behind eyes; lower 
fins light-orange; caudal red, with 2 conspicuous longitudinal stripes of blackish-red; dorsal red-shaded, a 
maroon blotch on each part of it extending upward from a similar blotch on back tabacarius 
gg. Back without conspicuous blotches of yellowish-white. 
h. Coloration nearly uniform; body elongate; snout short and thick; caudal slightly lunate. Color brownish-yellow 
on back, orange on sides, and brighter or red on belly; no spots nor bands; upper part of head bluish, fins gray; 
caudal bordered above and below with brown flavescens 
ec. Lower jaw very strongly projecting; body elongate, moderately compressed; scales small, about 70; snout sharp, 
much longer than the large eye; preopercle finely denticulated; top of head with vertex naked; caudal deeply 
forked; skull depressed, with a single crest; dorsal spines moderate, third highest. 
i. Color clear brown with larger darker spots or bars on sides; fins pale, more or less tinged with orange, luciopercanus 
115. Prionodes baldwini Evermann & Marsh. 
(Plate 15.) 
Head 2.5; depth 3.2; eye 4; snout 4.6; maxillary 2.4; mandible 2; interorbital 7; D. x, 12; A. 
hi, 7; pectoral 1.4; ventral 1.3; caudal 1.7; scales 4-42-12. 
Body elongate, moderately compressed, not elevated, covered with ctenoid scales; dorsal and 
ventral outlines alike; head moderate, pointed, naked above and below; eye large, greater than length 
of snout, high in position; mouth terminal, slightly oblique, maxillary reaching middle of eye or 
somewhat beyond; gillrakers short, 6 developed on lower limb; teeth small, conical, and sharp, on 
vomer and palatines and in several series in each jaw, with weak canines in front and a few canine-like 
teeth on middle of side of lower jaw; cheek with about 7 rows of scales; preopercle finely serrate; 
opercle ending in 3 sharp, flat spines, middle one largest, a membranous pointed flap projecting beyond; 
fins all naked, dorsal continuous, with a slight emargi nation; spines slender and pungent, first 4 or 5 
graduated, rest subequal, 3.2 in head, lower than soft rays which are contained about 2.5 in head; anal 
fin short, second spine longest and strongest, 3 in head, soft part high, fifth or sixth ray longest, 
