THE FISHES OF PORTO RICO. 
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scales large, about 4 rows in front of dorsal fin, scales not extending across median line; tubes of pores- 
of lateral line distinctly branched, branches usually 3 in number, lateral line running on third row of 
scales to near vertical of last dorsal ray, where it drops to fifth row. Fins moderate; longest dorsal 
spine about 3 in head, rays about 2.5; anal similar to soft dorsal; pectoral 1.5 in head; ventral with 
outer rays somewhat produced, about twice length of inner ray, or 1.75 in head; caudal fin almost 
truncate, slightly, if at all, double-concave. 
Color in life: Side beautiful pale-green; scales of back and upper part of side pale-brown at base; 
under parts greenish-white; a rich green axillary spot and a few scales above it with rich-green edges; 
pectoral brick-red on base, followed by a narrow blue bar, then by a broader lemon-colored bar, 
the red bar on base extending on body about 3 scales below pectoral; cheek lemon-colored, a rosy 
bar from mouth to base of pectoral, another from mouth to eye, and 2 others from preopercle across 
opercle, a narrow, wavy, rosy line under eye, a somewhat paler bar from mouth downward upon 
lower jaw, and another forward on snout, meeting its fellow in front; a rich blue postocular spot, with 
a small yellow one above it; humeral region rich green; a small black spot at base of last dorsal ray; 
dorsal and anal fins lemon; numerous short rosy bars crossing dorsal, which is bordered by rosy; anal 
base rosy, then a narrow green stripe, followed by a very narrow pale border; caudal pale greenish- 
lemon, with rosy on middle rays; pectoral pale-greenish; ventral white with slight rosy wash; iris 
green and red, pupil black. In alcohol all the colors fade to a yellowish olivaceous, the postocular 
spot and the one at base of last dorsal ray becoming black. 
Found in the West Indies, south to Bahia; recorded, from Cuba, Jamaica, St. Croix, and Bahia. 
The species reaches a foot in length. Two specimens, each 4.25 inches long, in the collections from 
Porto Rico — one from San Antonio Bridge, the other from Fajardo. We have compared our specimens 
with the type of 1. kirschii (No. 43303, U.S.N.M.) and find them to agree perfectly. 
Iridio kirschii Jordan & Evermann, Check-List of Fishes of North and Middle America, 413, 1896, Bahia; name only; 
Jordan & Evermann, Fishes North and Middle America, 1598, 1898. 
Genus 108. D0RAT0N0TUS Gunther. 
Body compressed; head not compressed to an edge anteriorly, its profile in front straight or con- 
cave; preorbital not very deep; mouth rather wide; teeth in a single series, 2 large canines in front of 
each jaw; a posterior canine; cheek and opercles scaly; gill-membranes united, free from isthmus; 
scales large; lateral line interrupted behind, beginning again lower down; dorsal fin with 9 strong 
pungent spines, some of the anterior elevated, median spines short, so that the outline of fin is concave; 
caudal rounded. Colors brilliant. Size small. This genus contains two known species, among the 
most beautiful of the Labridx, and the genus to which they belong is one of the best defined in the group. 
a. Scales large L5-20-6.5; color grass-green, over entire body and caudal fin megalepis, 187 
aa. Scales smaller, 1-26-0; caudal fin white, with 2 small reddish-brown spots decoris, 188 
187. Doratonotus megalepis Gunther. 
Head 2.75; depth 2.66; D. ix, 10; A. in, 9; scales 1I-20-6J. Body much compressed, mod- 
erately elevated, its greatest width behind the head two-sevenths of its height; caudal peduncle short 
and deep, its length but little more than one-half its height; profile from dorsal to nape convex, 
carinated; occiput and supraorbital region depressed and flat, snout protruding, profile of top of head 
thus strongly concave. Snout slender, sharp, compressed, its length 3.2 in head; mouth wide; maxillary 
4 in head ; teeth growing gradually larger anteriorly, the 2 front teeth in each jaw distinctly the largest, 
canine-like, diverging, opposed to each other; a small but distinct posterior canine in upper jaw, none 
in lower; eye moderate, little wider than interorbital width, 5 in head; cheek with a single series of 
large scales, 4 in number; opercle covered with 5 or 6 similar scales; gill-membranes broadly united, 
free from isthmus. Dorsal spines robust and pungent, the first 3 with conspicuous filamentous append- 
ages; first and second spines with their filaments about equal, 1.5 in head; without their filaments 
second spine is slightly the longer, equaling distance from end of snout to middle of eye, the fin rapidly 
descending to fourth spine, which is one-half as long as second, then gradually rising to ninth and 
highest, which is, however, shorter than the following soft rays; longest soft ray 1.66 in head; anal 
spines similar to those of dorsal fin, the longest about one-half head; caudal evenly convex, its longest 
ray 1.5 in head; ventrals short, about one-half length of head, an elongate scale between them at 
base; pectoral reaching beyond ventrals, but not to vent, 1.75 in head; membranes of vertical fins 
