THE FISHES OF PORTO RIOO. 
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posterior part of each jaw strong; interorbital space convex; preopercle finely serrate; gillrakers small 
and rather weak, about 12-)- 15; scales rather large, those above lateral line very much enlarged ante- 
riorly, arranged in irregular and very oblique series; those below lateral line but slightly enlarged 
anteriorly and in oblique series. Dorsal spines stout, third to fifth longest, about 2.5 in head, longest soft 
rayabout4.5; first anal spine very short, as usual, second long and strong, 2.4in head, scarcely reaching 
tips of last soft rays when depressed and scarcely longer than third; soft portion of anal slightly 
concave, anterior rays longest, about 2.5 in head; upper caudal lobe the longer, 1.4 in head; pectoral 
long and somewhat falcate, about 1.33 in head; ventrals long, about 1.57 in head; caudal and soft parts 
of dorsal and anal densely and finely scaled, few scales on pectorals and ventrals. 
Color in life: General color light bluish, series of scales each with a small brown or brassy spot, 
these forming narrow indistinct lines running upward and backward; above the lateral line the body 
of each scale is bluish, the border brownish olive; a brassy band along lateral line; back with some 
bronze; under parts whitish; about 12 narrow, irregular bright-blue lines on head, separated by 
broader brassy lines, these lines sometimes extending upon body; inner edge of maxillary orange; 
lower anterior edge of opercle yellow; inside of mouth red or deep yellow; lips dusky; dorsal grayish, 
with a narrow yellow edge on spinous portion; caudal plain gray; anal gray, tinged with yellow. 
Color in spirits: Body pale-grayish with slight bluish iridescence on terminal borders of scales; 
bases of scales above lateral line brown; under parts paler; head purplish, blue lines persistent but 
duller, the brassy entirely faded; bright color of inside of mouth also faded. 
The range of this species is from Cape Hatteras and Pensacola south to Brazil, on sandy shores. 
It is par excellence “the grunt” of our South Atlantic States and Florida. About Porto Rico it is 
one of the most abundant and valuable food-fishes. Numerous specimens were obtained at San Juan, 
Mayaguez, Puerto Real, Boqueron, Guanica, Ponce, Arroyo, Hucares, Isabel Segunda, and Culebra. 
It was one of the most common species in all the markets of the island. It is caught either in the 
fish-traps or with haul seines. In our seining about the island this was the species most frequently 
taken, particularly on sandy shores. At Key West it is the most abundant of all the food-fishes, and 
is caught all the year round, the best season being during the fall. Their spawning season is during 
August and September, at which time they gather up into schools on shoal, feathery, rock bottom, 
where they spawn. Each roe is from 1 to 2 inches in length. The eggs are said to be “gritty ” to the 
touch and about the size of a No. 10 shot. When ripe they separate and flow freely from the fish. 
After spawning the schools break up and the fish scatter. They are so abundant, however, that they 
can usually be found in large numbers on suitable bottom, the best fishing being on rock bottom. 
These fish grow to about 18 inches in length, with a maximum weight of 4 pounds; but those over 2 
pounds are rare, and the average weight does not exceed one-thircl of a pound. 
Guabi coarabrasiliensibus, Marcgrave, Hist. Brasil., 163, 1648, Brazil. 
Perea marina capite striato (the Grunt), Catesby, Hist. Carolina, pi. 6, 1743, Bahamas, etc. 
Labrus plumieri LacCpfede, Hist. Nat. Poiss., Ill, 480, pi. 2, fig. 2, 1802, Martinique; on a copy ot a drawing by Plumier. 
Hxmulon formosum Cuvier, R5gne Animal, ed. 2, II, 175, 1829, Martinique. 
Hxmulon arcuatum Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., IX, 481, 1833, Charleston, S. C. 
Hxmulon arara Poey, Memorias, II, 177, 1860, Cuba. 
Hxmulon subarcuatum Poey, Memorias, II, 419, 1860, Cuba; a specimen with blue bands on anterior half of head only. 
Hxmulon plumieri, Jordan & Evermann, 1. e., 1304, 1898. 
143. Haemulon flavolineatum (Desmarest). Ronco Condenado; French Grunt; Open-mouthed Grunt. 
Head 2.8; depth 3; eye 3; snout 3; maxillary 2.5; interorbital 3.5; scales 7-50-11; D. xii, 14; 
A. hi, 8. Body oblong-ovate, compressed, back not much elevated, profile from tip of snout to nape 
nearly straight, thence gently arched to origin of dorsal; mouth large, nearly horizontal, gape curved, 
maxillary nearly reaching middle of pupil; teeth moderate, outer somewhat enlarged; antrorse teeth 
in posterior part of each jaw considerably enlarged, those of upper jaw canine-like. Scales large, those 
on anterior part of body below lateral line considerably enlarged; rows of scales above lateral line 
running very obliquely upward and backward, those below somewhat wavy, most of them forming a 
curve with convexity downward and backward. Fins all moderate; dorsal spines slender, rather 
weak, longest about 2 in head; second anal spine longest and strongest, about 1.8 in head, its tip, 
when depressed, extending beyond tip of last ray. 
Color in life: Side with about 12 irregular brassy lines alternating with about same number of 
similar pale-bluish lines, upper brassy lines rather dark, middle ones brightest and broadest, the broadest 
