REVIEW OF THE SEREANIDiE. 
419 
This peculiar aud iuterestiug genus is represented by three East Indian species, 
well described by Bleeker iu his paper “ Sur le genre Morompsis,^^ besides the two 
following. 
The relations of the genus have been much in doubt. From the resemblance of 
the species to those of Xenichthys and *Xenistius, Dr. Gill has concluded that it has 
sparoid affinities, and has placed it near the Xenichthyince, 
But Kuhlia has a very narrow and serrated preorbital not at all sheathing the 
maxillary, its ventrals are destitute of the axillary scale, and the opercle has two . 
strong spines. All these are characters of the Serranidw aud not found iu the Sparidm. 
We therefore place Kuhlia in the former family. Among the genera of Serranidw it 
seems to be nearest Morone, as the synonym Moronopsis would also indicate. In 
technical characters it agrees with the group we have called Latince ; but, as we have 
already stated, we are not sure that Lates aud Morone are not representatives each of 
a different subfamily. In this case Kuhlia would represent still another. 
ANALYSIS OF AMERICAN SPECIES OF KUHLIA. 
a. Eye rather small, 3|- ia head ; body rather deep and compressed, the anterior profile straight or 
slightly concave ; depth 2f in length ; head 3|^, maxillary 2f in head, reaching front of pupil ; 
gill-rakers slender, X + 21 ; pectorals If in head; ventrals If; fifth (longest) dorsal spine If. 
D. IX, I, 11, A, III, 11. Scales, 7-51-12. L. 6 inches. Bluish above; sides bright silvery; cau- 
dal fin cream-colored with two oblique black bars on each lobe, these convergent backwards; an 
oblique black bar upward and backward across soft dorsal ; tins otherwise pale Arge, 112. 
aa. Eye very large, 2f in head ; body deep, compressed ; depth 2f in length ; head 3f ; maxillary barely 
reaching front of pupil; gill-rakers long aud slender, 9 -|- 24 ; pectorals 2f iu head; ventrals 
scarcely reaching vent ; longest dorsal spine If in head. D. IX, I, 11 ; A. Ill, 11. Scales, 51. 
Color olivaceous above, silvery below ; caudal fin plain Xenura, 113. 
112. KUHLIA ARGE. 
Kuhlia arge Jordan & Bollman, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1889 (Chatham Island, Galapagos Archipelago). 
Habitat — Galapagos Islands ; Eevillagigedos. 
Etymology. — apyupo^, silver. 
This species was first known from several specimens taken by the Albatross at 
Chatham Island. It has since been taken in great abundance by Dr. Gilbert about 
Clarion Island. It is very close to K. tainiura, of the waters of Java, Sumatra, and 
Buro, but the latter species has the eye larger*, 2§ to 3 in head. Comparing our speci- 
mens with the full description of the latter species given by Dr. Bleeker, we are able 
to detect no other difference, and it is very likely that our species will prove to be a 
variety of K. tceniura. 
113. KUHLIA XENURA. 
Xenichthys xenivrus Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1881, 454 (supposed to come from San Sal- 
vador). 
Kuhlia xenura Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1882, 376 (locality questioned). 
Habitat. — Probably San Salvador ; possibly China. 
Etymology. — strange ; odpd, tail, the tail being more deeply forked than in 
Xenichthys. 
Of this species two specimens are in the U. S. National Museum, bearing the label 
“ San Salvador. J. M. Dow.” But for certain reasons it is uncertain whether they 
belonged to Dow’s collection, and they may have been brought by Dr. Stimpson from 
