REVIEW OF THE SERRANID^. 
337 
We revert to tlie orifjinal spelling of the name Bypticus, although the later Bhyp- 
ticus is the correct form of the word. 
The species of Bypticus are, with two exceptions, not well known. The various 
nominal species are probably reducible to six, B. histrispinus, nigripinnis, saponaceus, 
coriaceus, arenatus, and bicolor, but we have not the material to demonstrate this. 
ANALYSIS OF SPECIES OF RYPTICUS. 
a. Dorsal spines, two. (Proniicroj) terns Gill.) 
b. Body comparatively deep, the depth more than length of head and more than one-third the length 
in the adult (less in the young); back considerably elevated; preopercle with 
two developed spines, only the uppermost usually obsolete ; maxillary reaching to 
below posterior margin of eye, in head; a depression before eye, the sharp snout 
abruptly projecting ; eye nearly as long as snout, 5| in head; lower jaw much pro- 
jecting; upper (median) spine on preopercle often divided, the lowermost larger, 
directed partly downward; opercular spines small; first dorsal spine a little longer 
than second, which is nearly or quite free from the soft rays; gill-rakers very short 
and thick, close set, about 8 or lU developed ; color dusky olive brown, somewhat 
clouded; sides with a few small irregular whitish spots; young with brownish 
spots ; tins dusky, edge of caudal iialo ; head 3 in length ; depth, to 2%. D. 
II, 25, A. 14 or 15 Bistrispinus, 1. 
bb. Body more slender, the depth about e(iual to length of head and less than one-third the length, 
even in the adult ; back little elevated ; preopercle with three distinct spines ; max- 
illary 2| in head, not quite reaching posterior border of eye; depression before eye 
slight, the protile not very uneven, slightly convex above eye; eye as long as snout, 
5i in head; lower jaw much projecting; preopercle with three distinct spines, the 
upper one small, the middle one largest, rarely divided; opercular spines, three, 
rather strong, the middle one largest ; first dorsal spine slightly longer than second, 
which is nearly or quite free from the soft rays; gill-rakers short and thick, about 
8 developed. Color brownish, irregularly mottled with whitish spots as large as 
the pupil, some of them with a darker center, these spots extending on all the ver- 
tical fins, sometimes wanting in the young, vertical tins and pectorals edged with 
dusky; head in length ; depth about 3J. D. II, 26, A. 16 Nigripinnis, 2. 
aa. Dorsal spines three (or four) {Byjjtious). 
c. Dorsal spines three only. 
d. Preopercle with three spines, the uppermost blunt, and .sometimes obsolete, the lower the 
largest ; opercle with throe strong spines, the middle one largest ; body rather deep, 
the depth about equal to leugtli of head and 3jr in length to base of caudal ; ba«k mod- 
erately elevated ; snout short, not very acute, the lower jaw much projecting ; ante- 
rior profile steep and almost straight; eye 5^ in head; maxillary reaching beyond 
pupil, 2J in head; first dor.sal spine longest ; dorsals slightly connected ; ventral fins 
moderate, nearly twice as long as eye ; pectorals rounded ; gill-rakers short and thick. 
Color very dark olive brown, the fins all blackish ; sides with vague blotches of 
light brown. Head, 3^; depth, 3^; D. Ill, 24; A. 16 Xanti, 3. 
dd. Preopercle with two spines only, the lower scarcely the longer. 
e. Opercular spines three, all well developed. 
/. (Color red, with darker cross-shades on sides of back; fins all dusky; dorsal fins well 
separated; body rather elongate. Head 3f in length; depth 3|-.) {Valenciennes) 
Bicolor, 4. 
ff. Color not red, chiefly olivaceous; dorsal fins distinctly connected by membrane. 
g. Body comparatively deep, the depth in the adult about equal to length of head and 3 
to 34, in length to base of caudal; young more slender; back elevated; snout rather 
pointed; lower jaw much projecting; anterior profile before eye a little concave; 
eye 4^ to 5 in head ; maxillary reaching posterior edge of eye, 2J in head ; preopercle 
with two straight spines behind; opercle with three spines, the middle one largest; 
Bull. U. S. F. C., 88 22 
