REVIEW OF THE SERRANID^. 
341 
7. RYPTICUS CORIACEUS. 
Eleutheractis coriaceiis Co^e>, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc., 467, 1870 (St. Martin’s). 
Rhypticus arenatus Beau audDresel, Proo. U. S. Nat. Mas., 1884, 16:5 (Jamaica). 
Habitat. — West Indian Fauna. 
Etymology. — Latin, coriaceus, leathery. 
A specimen before us (30130, U. S. Nat. Mus.) from Kingston, Jamaica, seems to be 
identical with Eleutheractis coriaceus Cope. It seems to us to represent a valid species, 
distinguished from B. saponaceufiby tlie weak armature of the head, and by the greater 
distance between the dorsal fins. 
8. RYPTICUS NIGROMACULATUS. 
Rhypticus nigromaculatus Ste\ada,ohnev, lolith. Notiz., VI, 42, 1867. (Barbadoes.) 
Habitat. — West Indian Fauna. 
Etymology. — Niger .i black ; niaculatus, spotted, from the black spots on body. 
This species is based on a single specimen If inches long. Except that it is said 
to have four dorsal spines, the description agrees with tliat of B. arenatus, and B. 
nigromaculatus may prove to be simply an accidental variation of the latter. 
Genus II.— POLTPRTON. 
Polyprion (Cuvier), Valenciennes, Mdmoires du Musdum, XI, 265, 1824 (cernium). 
Hectoria Castelnau, Proc. ZodI. Soc. Viet., II, 1873, 1851 (giyas—oxygeneios). 
Type. — Polyprion cernium Valenciennes. 
Etymology. — lloXh', many; npimv, saw, from the numerous serrations on head and fins. 
This genus seems to be somewhat allied to Epinephelus, but it is readily distin- 
guished from all the other ISerranidce by the armature of its head. The two known 
species inhabit the warm seas and reach a very great size. 
ANALYSIS OF THE SPECIES OF POLYPRION. 
a. Body robust, moderately elevated, the depth 3 in length ; head, ; mouth large, the maxillary 
reaching posterior border of eyes ; teeth in villiform bauds on jaws, vomer, palatines and tongue; 
supraocular region, supraclavicle, post temporal, preopercle, and a ridge on the opercle spiniger- 
ous; dorsal fin low, with 11 strong spines; caudal rounded; aual spines short, serrate anteriorly, 
the third much the longest; ventrals large; pectoral short; color grayish-brown, the caudal 
edged with white ; young clouded with light and dark. D. XI, 12, A. Ill, 8 Cernium, 9. 
aa. [Body more elongate; the depth 3^ in length; head 2^; armature of the head less developed than 
in P. cernium; dorsal spines 12; color, dark gray above, paler below. D. XII, 11, A, III 8,] {Stein- 
dachner) Oxygeneios, 10. 
9. POLYPRION CERNIUM. 
(THE wreck-fish; stone bass; CERNIER.) 
Polyprion cernium (Cuvier), Valenciennes, M6m. du Musdum, XI, 265, 1824; Cnv. and Val., Hist. Nat. 
Poiss. 111,21, pi. 42, 1829 (France; Italy); Giiuther I, 169, 1859 (Mediterranean) ; Day, Fish. 
Great Britain, 17, 1865, and of authors generally. 
Holocentrus gulo Risso, Europe Mdridionale, HI, 367, 1826 (Nice). 
Serranua couchi Yarrell, British Fishes, Ed. 1, 12, 1836. 
