_Hoplopagrus guntheri_ is a large snapper of the west coast of Mexico, having very large molar teeth in its jaws besides slit-like nostrils and other notable peculiarities. From the standpoint of structure this species, with its eccentric characters—is especially interesting. The yellow-tail snapper or rabirubia (_Ocyurus chrysurus_) is a handsome and common fish of the West Indies, with long, deeply forked tail, which makes it a swifter fish than the others. Another red species is the diamond snapper or cagon de lo alto, _Rhomboplites aurorubens_. All these true snappers have the soft fins more or less scaly. In certain species that swim more freely in deep waters, these fins are naked. Among them is the Arnillo, _Apsilus dentatus_, a pretty brown fish of the West Indies, and its analogue in Hawaii, _Apsilus brighami_, red, with golden cross-bands. _Aprion virescens_, the Uku of Hawaii, is a large fish of a greenish color and elongate body, widely diffused throughout Polynesia and one of the best of food-fishes. A related species is the red voraz (_Aprion macrophthalmus_) of the West Indies. Most beautiful of all the group are the species of _Etelis_, with the dorsal fin deeply divided and the head flattened above. These live in rather deep water about rocky reefs and are fiery red in color. Best known is the Cuban species, _Etelis oculatus_, the cachucho of the markets. Equally abundant and equally beautiful is _Etelis carbunculus_ of Polynesia, _Etelis evurus_ of Hawaii, and other species of the Pacific islands. [Illustration: FIG. 275.—_Xenocys jessiæ_ Jordan & Bollman. Family _Lutianidæ_. Galapagos Islands. ] _Verilus sordidus_, the black escolar of Cuba, has the form of _Etelis_, but the flesh is very soft and the color violet-black, indicating its life in very deep water. Numerous small silvery snappers living near the shore along the coast of western Mexico belong to the genera called _Xenichthys_, _Xenistius_, and _Xenocys_. _Xenistius californiensis_ is the commonest of these species, _Xenocys jessiæ_, the largest in size, with black lines like a striped bass. To the genus _Dentex_ belongs a large snapper-like fish of the Mediterranean, _Dentex dentex_. Very many related species occur in the old world, the prettily colored _Nemipterus virgatus_, the _Itoyori_ of Japan being one of the best known. Another interesting fish is _Aphareus furcatus_, a handsome, swift fish of the open seas occasionally taken in Japan and the East Indies. _Glaucosoma burgeri_ is a large snapper of Japan, and a related species, _Glaucosoma hebraicum_, is one of the "jewfishes" of Australia. Numerous fossil forms referred to _Dentex_ occur in the Eocene of Monte Bolca, as also a fish called _Ctenodentex lackeniensis_ from the Eocene of Belgium. [Illustration: FIG. 276.—_Aphareus furcatus_ (Lacépède). Odawara, Japan. Family _Lutianidæ_. ] [Illustration: FIG. 277.—Grunt, _Hæmulon plumieri_ (Bloch). Charleston, S. C. ]