360 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
We have compared Brazilian specimens {Epineplielus mentzeli) with the descriptions 
of this species given by Professor Doderlein and by Dr. Day. We can find no differ* 
ence whatever, and we agree with Dr. Steindachner in regarding the two as identical. 
The following description is taken from No. 4506, M. O. Z., 15 inches long, collected 
at Rio de Janeiro by Professor Agassiz : 
Head, 2^ in length ; depth, 2f. D. XI, 15, A. Ill, 8 ; scales 17-85 to 90-x. Body 
rather deep ; profile steep ; snout short, rather pointed ; lower jaw little projecting ; 
canines small; preopercle without salient angle, the teeth just above the angle large 
and strong; lower limb of preopercle entire. Gill rakers very short, x + 15. Interor- 
bital space narrow, not as wide as eye, which is 5f in head ; maxillary 2| in head. 
Third dorsal spine highest, 2| in head. Anal high and rounded, its second spine 5 in 
head ; caudal rounded. 
Color, in spirits, dark brown, with rather faint round whitish spots which are ir- 
regular and arranged somewhat in vertical rows, and most distinct on caudal pedun- 
cle. Dorsal, anal, caudal, and pectorals broadly edged with black. Other specimens 
from Rio de Janeiro and Santos belong to the same species. There is not much doubt 
that Epinephelus brachysomus Cope, and the Brazilian specimens referred by Cuvier 
and Valenciennes to Epinephelus dichropterus belong to this form. 
The Labrus guaza Linnaeus is some species of Epinephelus, with the caudal rounded, 
the color dusky, and the dorsal rays XI, 16. Guasa is the Spanish name in the West 
Indies for Proinicrops guttatus and other large Serranoids. 
The following key to the Mediterranean species of Epinephelus is translated from 
that given by Vinciguerra (Risultate Ittiologici del Violante, 1883, 33): 
a. Upper jaw naked; caudal rounded. 
6. Opercle without oblique lines Gigas. 
hh. Opercle with oblique lines jEneus. 
aa. Upper jaw with small scales ; caudal truncate or concave. 
c. Dorsal with 13 or 14 soft rays Caninus. 
CO. Dorsal with 16 soft rays Alexandrinus. 
36. EPINEPHELUS MYSTACINUS. 
(Cherna de le Alto.) 
Serranus mystaeinus Poey, Memorias Cuba, I, 52, 1851, tab. 10, f. 1 (Cuba); Gunther, I, 109, 1859 
(South America). 
ScMstorus mystaeinus Poey, Repertorio, II, 154,1868; Poey, Synopsis Pise. Cubens., 1868, 287; Poey 
Enumeratio Pise. Cubens., 1875, 18. 
Epinephelus mystaeinus Jordan & Swain, 1. c., 383 (Havana). 
Habitat. — West Indian fauna. 
Etymology. — moustache. 
This rather scarce species has been well described by Jordan & Swain. 
