400 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
writers except Bleeker, Vaillant, Klnnzioger, and Doderleia have recognized the 
wide divergence of Serranus and Upinephelus. Bleeker, who saw this clearly, prop- 
erly retained the name Serranus for its original type and retained the old name Epi- 
nephelus for the group to which it was first given. Doderlein, for no obvious reason, 
substitutes the later name Cerna for Epinephelus, while Klunzinger perversely and 
needlessly changes these names about, calling the Epineplieli “ Serranus’’^ and making 
a new name for Serramis.* 
Under Serranus we recognize several snbgenera of more or less importance, some 
of which have been often regarded as distinct genera. Of these^ Prionodes contains 
most species, American species, with shorter fins and smaller teeth, being weaker repre- 
sentatives of the European Serranellus. The two European species scriba and cabrilla 
differ considerably in the position of the lateral line, the latter species diverging from 
the usual Serrauine type and apiiroaching the Antlmnce. The greater number of 
gill-rakers is also an indication of the same kind. In view of this difference, I have 
proposed a new subgeneric name for the type of Serranus scriba. 
ANALYSIS OF SPECIES OF SERRANUS. 
I. Dorsal fia rather short, its rays X, 11, or X, 12 ;• canine teeth moderate or small; dorsal fin with few 
scales or none; species of small size, American. 
a. Caudal fin truncate. 
6. Scales large, 42 to 50 in the course of the lateral line; second anal spine considerably longer 
than third, about in head. Body deep, compressed, the head 
comparatively slender, the anterior profile straight or somewhat 
concave; lower jaw little projecting; maxillary reaching beyond 
middle of eye, 2jr in head ; canines small, those on sides of lower 
jaw largest; preopercle rounded, suheqnally serrate; gill-rakers 
short and few, 6 or 8 in number; dorsal fin little emarginate, the 
fourth spine 3 in head ; jaws scaleless ; soft dorsal with small scales ; 
pectoral long, reaching anal ; color brown, with darker cross-shades ; 
soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins checkered with blackish on a white 
ground ; a broad white area or bar before anal fin. 
*Dr. Klunzinger remarks : “ Bleeker nennt die Serranua jetzt Epinephelus. Diese Sucht, alteNamen 
hervorzusuchen, halte ich ftirverfehlt, wenigstens in Fallen, wie bier. Bloch hat allerdings verschie- 
deno Arten dieser Gattung unter Epinephelus aufgefiihrt, die Gattuugsdiagnose ist aber nichtssagend ; 
Bloch hat die <Serra/i«s-Arten in viele Gattungen vertheilr, wie Holocentrus, Johnias, Cephalopholis, 
Perea, u. s. w. In den Regelu zoologischer Nomenclatur, wie die von der British Association 1865 
und 1869 adoptirt warden, heisst es in $ 12: ein Name, welcher nie dentlich definirt wurde, sollte in 
den Namen uugeiiudert werden, welcher den Gegenstand zuerst deutlich bezeichnet. Dieser Regel 
folge ich.” 
Dr. Klunzinger forgets that Serranus was originally based on “le serran proprement dit” — that is, 
on Serranus eabrilla. If the clumsily constructed A^pimeplie/MS of Bloch is unsatisfactory to him, he has 
still the correctly defined Epinephelus of Bleeker. Even should he reject the name Epinephelus as 
wrong in meaning, the synonyms Cerna and Merits were both prior to his arrangement. 
No writers have done so much to promote confusion in nomenclature as those who disregard the 
law of priority whenever the dictates of this law are opposed to their own whims. We find no excuse 
for the introduction of the name Pseiidoserranus as a division of Serranus, when the author of the name 
knew that both groups had been named and defined long before. 
Dr. Klunzinger seems to have wholly misunderstood the affinities of Centroprisiis. This genus, which 
is indistinguishable from his Pseudoserranus, he places in the neighborhood of Mesoprion {Lutjanus). 
He then divides Centropristis into three subgenera : Centropristis (atrarius), Paraeentropristis (Jiepatus), 
and Aprion (vireseens). The genus Aptrion has no sort of affinity with Centropristis, and it does not be- 
long to the Serranidee. It belongs with Lutjanua, Apsilus, and Etelis, among or near to the Sparidee. 
