EEVIEW OF THE SERRANID^. 
391 
This genus is very close to Serramis, from which it differs chiefly in the form of 
the upper part of the skull, which approaches somewhat more nearly to the condition 
seen in the Upmephelitice. The supraoccipital crest is much longer than in Serranus, 
and it encroaches more on the frontal region. The three species of Gentropristis are 
closely related, and are not very different from the species of Paralabrax. 
ANALYSIS OF SPECIES OF CENTROPRISTIS. 
a. Dorsal spines with dermal flaps, which scarcely project beyond the tip of the spine; longest dorsal 
spine less than half length of head (CentroprisUs). 
b. Caudal fin with its angles little produced, the longest ray not exserted for a distance equal to the 
length of the fin ; gili-rakers about 20 ; scales on cheek in more than seven rows ; body robust, 
the back somewhat elevated anteriorly ; eye small, nearly 5 in head ; lower jaw projecting ; 
maxillary 2^ in head ; teeth in broad bauds, the canines small ; posterior border of preoper- 
cle finely serrate, the angle and lower border with larger teeth; dorsal spines rather strong, 
the middle ones rather higher than the posterior, which are lower than the soft rays ; highest 
dorsal spine 2 in head ; none of the spines filamentous ; pectorals very long, H in head ; anal 
spines graduated; color dusky brown or black with paler longitudinal streaks; dorsal with 
oblique light and dark stripes; young with a black longitudinal band, many dark cross- 
shades, and a large black spot on last dorsal siiiues. Sexes notably different, the fin rays 
longer in the male. Head, 2f in length ; dex>th 3. D. X, 11 ; A. Ill, 7. Scales 5-52-13. 
Striatus, 72. 
bb. Caudal fin with its ujiper and lower lobes filamentous, much produced, the middle rays still 
longer, length of longest ray in the adult 2 in body ; gill-rakers about x 12; scales on 
cheek in seven rows ; color grayish, each side with three longitudinal rows of quadrate black 
blotches, the upper series obscure, the second from eye below the lateral line to caudal quite 
distinct, the third series composed of shorter siiots on a level with the lower half of the pec- 
torals; some jet-black spots about opercle and above axil; dorsal with a series of jet-black 
spots along its base ; caudal with the middle rays black at their tins, the outer pale ; jet- black 
spots on middle rays. D. X, 11; A. HI, 7, lat. 1., 52 Ocyurus, 73. 
aa. Dorsal spines, or some of them, tipped with fleshy filaments, which project considerably beyond the 
tip of the sfiiue ; longest dorsal spine about half length of head; caudal lobes more or less 
Xjroduced {Triloburus Gill). 
c. Body rather elongate, little com^iressed, the anterior jirofile nearly straight ; eye large, as long 
as snout, about 4 in head; mouth large, the lower jaw jirojecting, the maxillary 2 in head, 
reaching beyond middle of eye ; lower edge of subopercle, interopercle, and preopercle finely 
serrate, the serriB on he angle scarcely enlarged; gill-rakers rather long, about x-j- 12; canines 
small ; top of head naked ; ten rows of scales on cheek ; dorsal spines slender, graduated 
rapidly to the third or fourth, thence decreasing to the last ; fourth dorsal spine 2 in head ; 
anal spines graduated, the second 4 in head ; pectorals 14 in head ; color olive-gray ; sides 
with about seven broad, diffuse, brown bars extending from back obliquely forward to level 
of pectorals ; a large black spot on membrane of last dorsal spines ; dorsal filaments scarlet ; 
caudal with irregular cross-rows of round brownish spots ; other tins similarly marked. Sexes 
little different. Head 2% in length; depth 3^. D. X, 11 ; A. Ill, 7. Scales 6-52-14. 
Philadelphicus, 74. 
72. CENTROPRISTIS STRIATUS. 
(The Black Sea-bass, Black-fish, Tally-wag, Hannahill, Black-will, Black Harry.) 
Labrus striatus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., Ed. x, 1758, 285 (“America,”) description very brief, but not to be 
referred to any other fish). 
Perea atraria Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., xii, 485, 1766 (Carolina) ; Gmelin, Syst. Nat., 1314, 1788 (copied) ; 
Bloch &, Schneider, Syst. Ichtby., 88, 1801 (copied) ; Gronow, Syst., Ed. Gray, 111, 1854 (copied). 
CentroprisUs atrarius Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., I, 86, 1859 (New York) ; Holbrook, Ichth. S. Caro- 
lina, 42,1860 (Carolina); Gill, Cat. Fish. East Coast N. Am., 28, 1873; Goode & Bean, Fishes 
Essex Co., 19, 1879 (Nahant ; Salem ; Beverly Bar). 
