REVIEW OF THE SERRANID^. 
387 
caudal fin is always lunate, and some of the anterior dorsal spines are in all the species 
considerably elevated. The number of soft rays in the dorsal is also greater in 
Paralabrax than in Gentropristis. The five known species of Paralahrax are found on 
the Pacific coast of America, while those of Gentropristis are confined to the Atlantic 
coast. 
There is no warrant for the separation of either Atractoperca or Gonioperca as 
genera distinct from Paralahrax. 
• ANALYSIS OF SPECIES OP PARALABRAX. 
a. Interorbital area more or less scaly, the scales extending forward at least to the middle of pupil ; 
gill-rakers x -|-14 to 17 ; preorbital broad, as broad as eye in adult ; some of the serraj on 
lower limb of preorbital booked forward. 
b. Scales on top of head extending forward as far as front of eyes ; no round dark spots anywhere 
exce^jt on cheeks and preorbital region ; body rather elongate ; lower jaw projecting; eye 
moderate, shorter than snout, about 5^ in head ; mouth large, the maxillary 2| in head, 
rather narrower than the i>reorbital ; first two dorsal spines short, the third very long, 
three times second and nearly 2 in head ; soft dorsal rather low ; caudal slightly lunate ; 
second anal spine as long as third and much stouter; pectorals moderate, l^in head; color 
greenish, with irregular pale and dark mottling and traces of dark oblique cross-bars ; 
fins dusky, mottled ; preorbital, suborbital, and cheeks profusely marked with round or- 
ange spots ; a dark streak downward and backward from eye; head 2^ in length; dejith 
3^; D. X, 14; A. Ill, 7 ; scales 14-72-24 Nebulifer, 67. 
66. Scales on top of head extending forward only to middle of eyes; head and sides of body every- 
where covered with dark orange spots; gill-rakers short and thick, x -t- 12, the longest 2^^ 
in eye; body moderately elongate; lower jaw projecting, but less so than in P. nebulifer; 
eye small, 5 to 6 in head, shorter than snout ; maxillary reaching middle of eye, 2f in head ; 
scales quite rough. Second dorsal spine short, not half the third, which is If in head, the 
fourth scarcely shorter ; second anal spine shorter than third ; iiectoral moderate. If in 
head; caudal slightly concave ; color olive brown, thickly covered everywhere above with 
dark hexagonal or roundish spots, so close together as to leave the ground color appearing 
as reticulations around them ; these spots are more or less confluent on the back, and are 
most distinct, and tinged with orange on sides of head, on brauchiostegals, and on base of 
pectorals; about seven dusky cross-bars along the sides, in which the spots are deeper in 
color and more confluent ; a bluish stripe from eye across cheeks ; lower parts yellow ; soft 
dorsal and caudal with bronze spots. Head 3 in length; depth 3; D. X, 14 ; A. Ill, 7. 
Scales 12-70(pores)25 Maculatofasciatus, 68. 
aa. Interorbital area chiefly naked,* the scales on top of head beginning more or less behind the pupil; 
gill-rakers, x 17 to 22. 
c. Preorbital rather broad, more than three-fourths width of eye; sides of back with large white 
spots; fourth dorsal spine usually higher than third, so that the posterior margin of the 
dorsal fin is deeply concave; snout 3^ in head; eye 5f; least width of preorbital 6; inter- 
orbital area flattish, the scales beginning opposite last part of pupil ; maxillary 2 ; nostrils 
small, subequal; gill-rakers shortish, x-f-19; first dorsal spine short; second one-third 
longer; third more than three times second; fourth still longer (in specimens examined 
by us, usually not longer in adults, according to Dr. Steindaohner, 2f in head), the fin thus 
very deeply notched ; anal spines short, graduated, the second 4f in head ; caudal lunate ; 
color, in alcohol, dark above, abruptly xiale below ; a large, dark, oblique dash below eye, 
covering most of cheek ; a row of five, oblong, horizontal, white blotches just below lateral 
line; first and second largest, about as long as eye ; a single one as large as third blotch 
above this row below the second to fourth rays of soft dorsal ; caudal dusky, its central 
and posterior part pale ; anal and ventral black ; pectoral pale ; spinous dorsal dusky at 
base; soft dorsal mottled with dark. Head 2f in length ; depth 3f ; D. X, 14 ; A. Ill, 7; 
scales 70 Albomaculatus, 69. 
* This character may prove unreliable. According to Dr. Steindachner, the top of the head is 
chiefly scaly in Paralabrax humeralis. 
