A revision of the American species of the genus <I>Brevoortia</I>, with a description of a new species from the Gulf of Mexico

30 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.

CMorostoma Pfeifferi.

Surcula Carpenteriana.

Conus californicus.

NeveritaEecluziana.

Mitra maura.

Monoceros engonatum.

Purpuracrispafa.

Fusus Harfordi.

Near

Santa Barbara, the outcrop (0^) upon the seabeach afforded a few fossils,

some

ofwhich weresimilar to speciesobtained from the

San

Diegowell.

Among

these werethe ^following, allrecentspecies:

—

Venericardia monilicosta.

Bittium quadrifilatum.

Bittium asperum.

Lacuna

vincta.

Astyrisgausapata.

Ampliissa versicolor.

Trophoiiorpheusfjun.

The

formation within whoselimitsthebedsabovedescribed areto be included extendsfrom thePribiloffIslands southward,at least toYesso Island, Japan, onthe west,

and

to Chilion theeast.

A

^{fruitful locality}

is atCerrosIsland,

Lower

California,from

whence

Waldheimia Kennedyi Dall, and alsoa

number

of thespecies referred to in the preceding article,have been obtained,

some

ofwhich aredescribed

by Gabb

inthe Paleontology of California.

Jurassicor Cretaceous beds appear to existat Todos, Santos Bay,

Lower

Caliibruia,notfarfromSan Diego. Mr. Hemphillcollected here, and has presentedtotheNational

Museum,

half a dozenspecies not yet criticallyexamined, but containing a fine specimen belonging to the Eudistcv, which have hithertobeen hardly

known

as

American

fossils.

March2, 1878.

A

REVISIOIV

©F THE

A.TIERICAIV SPECffES

OF THE GENUS BRE.

VOORTilA, 'tVflTII

A

E>ES4;KII»TflOi'V

OE A

^NE"*V

SPECIES FROM THE GUEE OE

MEXflCO.

By

G.

BROWN GOODE.

The

type of the genus Brevoortia of Gill is the speciesdescribed in 1802 by Latrobe underthe

name

ofClupeatyrannus^andlaterbyMitch-

illunderthe

name

of Clupeamenhaden.

As

has been alreadyindicated,*

the former

name

has the prior claim to adoption,

and

the species

must

be^called Brevoortia tyrannus.

Of

this species,there appear tobe two geographicalraces orvarieties.

One

of these isthe typical formof the Atlanticcoastof the United States, the other acloselyalliedform from the coast of Brazil, already described

by

Spix under the

name

of Clupanodonaureus.

For

thenorthern form, the

name

ofMitchill should be retained,and the

two

varieties

may

be distinguishedasBrevoortia tyrannus var.menhaden,

and

Brevoortia tyrannus var. aureus.

On

the coast ofPatagonia

and Paraguay

occursawell-markedspeciesdescribed

by

Jenyns under the

name

of Alosapectinata. This species is readily

'Videsu])ra, p. d.

PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL

MUSEURr.

31

distinguished

by

itslarger scales, whicharearrangedin 18 to20lateral rows,instead of 25 to 27, as in B. tyranmis.

The

generic relations of thisspecies wererecognized

many

years ago

by

ProfessorGill,

and

its

name

should standas Brevoortiapectinata, (Jenyns) Gill.

A

^{thirdspeciesoccursin the Gulf of Mexico. Itis}distinguished

by

its largerhead

and

fins. It appears tohaveneverbeendescribed,and

for this form the

name

Brevoortia patromisisproposed. Itis accom- panied

by

the

same

^Crustacean parasite thatis found in the

mouths

of B. tyrafinus, to which Latrobe gave the significant specific

name

of 2Jrcegustator.

Brevoortia tyrannus, (Latrobe) Goode.

Diagnosis.

— Head and jaws short,the length of the head less than

one-thirdof the length of thebody, less the caudal ^fin, especially short in var.aurea_; the maxillaryin length

much

less than three-twentieths of the length of the body.

Height

of

body

about one-third of total length,in veryfatindividuals three-eighths. Finscomparatively short, theheightofthedorsal less thanlength of maxillary, andconsiderably lessthan three-tenthsof length of body, that of the anal usually less than half that of maxillary, that of ventralalways lessthan one-tenth of total length,the length of middle caudal raysone-fifth that of body and less, that of exteriorcaudal rays usuallyabout three-fourths, often lessthan two-thirds,

and

rarely

more

than five-sixths of total length.

Fins all shorter in var. aurea. Insertion of ventral far behind tip of pectoral. Insertion of dorsal about equidistant from snout

and

base of middle caudal rays, but varying two or three one-hundredths to either sideof the

median

point, and always slightlybehindthe vertical frominsertion of veutrals.

Scales of

medium

size,

much

serrated, arranged veryirregularly in 24-20 transverse and GO-80 longitudinal rows. Scales forming sheath atbase of pectoralnot large. Squamation of caudal lobes moderate.

Operculum

strongly striated in var.menhaden., almostsmoothin var.

aurea.

Scapular blotch conspicuous.

This species is easily distinguished from Brevoortia patronus

by

its shorter head

and

fins, by its slendererbody,and itspectinated scales,

and from B. pectinata by its smaller, lessregularly arranged, and

more numerous

scales,

and

its shorter,less furcatecaudal fin.

INDIVIDUAL VARIATIONS AND

SPECIAL

CHARACTEKS.

Read.

— The

length of the head varies from 0.28 to0.33.

The

poste- riorendofthemaxillary extendstoa pointintheverticalfromthe centre of the orbit.

The

length of the skull, as indicated

by

the " distance from snout to nape", varies from 0.19 to 0.23.

The

length of snout, measured from a line

drawn

perpendicularly through the centreof the orbit,varies from 0.09 to 0.11.

The

length of maxillary varies from

32 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STlTES NATIONAL MUSEUM.

0.12 to 0.145; thatof mandible from0.15 to0.18.

The

diameter of the eyeenters 4^ times ⁱⁿ the length of the head. Its widthvaries from 0.11 to 0.15 invery fatindividuals.

Shape of Body.

—

^{This is} exceedingly variable,

and

the variationis

caused largelyby the fatness of theindividual. In very

plump

ones, the expansion of the belly throwsback theorigin of the ventrals

and

anal,

and

greatlychangestheappearanceofthe fish. Inthespecimens before me, the height of the

body

rangesfrom 0.31 to 0.38i.

The

table of measurements subjoinedshowsthe effectofincreasedheight ofbody ui)onthe other measurementsof proportion.

Fins.

— The

range of variation in the position of the dorsal is indi- catedin the diagnosis. Thereisnoappreciable correlationbetween the positionsof thedorsal

and

anal in the

same

specimen.

The

insertion of the analis distantfrom the snoutfrom 0.C8 to0.75.

The

lengths of the rays indorsal, anal, ventral,

and

caudal vary much, as thetable of measurements indicates. In the caudal, theupperlobesvaryfrom 0.16 to 0.25; the lower lobesfrom 0.18 to0.27.

The

relation of thepectoral

and

ventral fins is

much

affected

by

the lengthof the head, theinser- tion oftheformer beingthrown

much

furtherbackinlong-headed indi- viduals.

Scales.

— The degreeof serration varies muchin individuals aswellas the squamation of the bases of the vertical fins and thenumber and

regularity of the body-scales. In

young

individuals, the scales are arranged with

much

regularity; but, in adults, Ihave strong reasonto believethatscalesare intercalatedhere

and

there,throwingthearrange-

ment

into greatdisorder,

and

renderingan accurateenumerationimijos- sible.

Varieties.

— Theseriesbeforemeembracessome twohundred specimens of Brevoortiatyranniisoivarious ages, seasons, and localities. Almost everyfeatureissubject towidevariations,andthereisusuallynodecided correlationbetweendifferentcharactersexcept that a longheadisaccom- panied usually bylong jaws,andapectoral set fartherbackandextend- ing morenearly to the insertion of the ventral. There are, however, certaingroups of individuals which canbe included within a diagnosis which may serve to distinguish them from all the others of thesame

species.

To what

extent it is desirable to define varieties which are not separated geographically, I

am

not well satisfied.

The

exactmean- ing of the terms

"

sub-species" and "variety" as employed

by

Cope, Cones, Gill, Yarrow, and other recent writers has not been definitely interpreted. It seems desirable, however, to designate in

some way

the limitsof variation from the normalspecific typein differentdirec- tions.

With

thispurpose, and premisingthat byavariety I

mean

sim- plya divergent form, connected

by

intermediate forms with the typical specific form, I have thought it desirable to

name

provisionally two

varieties, andto callattention tootherswhich

may

possiblyexist. This isdonewith

much

hesitation,and only with aview to an attempt to

PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 33

Ibnnnhitethe minorclitieiencesto be observed betweenlishof tbe

same

species on different parts of our coast.

A

precisely parallel case isto befound in tbe shad of the differentAtlantic rivers, which arc well

known

to exhibit strong-distinctive marks.

Very

possiblyevery school of

menhaden

has its

own

characteristics. In every casewhere I have had an opportunity toobserve them, theindividualscomposingthe

same

school were closely similar to eachother.

The

typicalformofthe species as

now

defined is takenfrom the coast ofSouthern

New England and

the MiddleStates. It has the height of tbe body about one-third of the total length,the head three-tenths of thetotal length, or a little more, the maxillary long (0.14to 0A41)

and

exceedingthe height ofthe dorsal.

The

speciesdescribed by Spix under the

name

of Clupanodon aureus cannot be distinguished

by any

apparent specitic characters fromBre- voortia fi/rannus, sinceoneor moreofthe specimensofthelatterspecies before

me

partake of

some

of the peculiaritiesof the Brazilian form.

Thereis,however, a generalaverageofcharacters exhibitedbytheBrazil- ian specimensas well as by thefigure of Spix, with which they closely agree,which seemsto

me

to entitlethem,forthe presentatleast,torecog- nition asbelongingto a distinct geographical variety.

The

distinrtivc characters appeartoconsist in (1) a greateraverage height of body;

(2) alesser length ofhead

; (3) alesser average length ofmaxillary

and

mandible; (4) a slightly lower anal

and

dorsalfin _; (5)agreateraverage distance of analfrom snout_; (G)a greater averagelength ofthe middle caudal rays; ₍₇₎a shorteraveragepectoral

; (8) a moreregular arrange-

ment

of the scales, and a moreluxuriant growth of small scales at the basesofthefins.

A number

^ofspecimensfromXoank, takenin1874,vary quite as

much

from thenormaltype

and

in almost the

same

respectasthe variety just described.

The

maxillary

and

mandible are shorter, however, than in theBrazilian form, theanal fin lower,

and

the lobes of the caudalare extremely short, sometimes hardly exceeding in length the pectoral

tin.

But

for the fact that these specimens

show

almost all the charac- tersof the Brazilian Brevoortia, and in

some

cases exaggerations of them, I should be inclined to consider the aurea a distinct species.

Having

with

some

hesitation allowedit the rankof a variety,the ques- tion

must

be decided as tothe propriety of also allowingvarietal rank

tothis peculiarform from Xoank.

The

exact meaning-ofthetermssub- species andvariety as recently employed by zoologists is not very clear to

my

mind, but I infer thata " variety" is composedof an assemblage of individuals varying uniformly from the typical specific form in a degree sufficient to besusceptible of description and definition, though not necessarily separated from it by the absenceof connecting forms..

Prem^ing

then that in givingto the

Noank

specimens avarietal r.ame

my

object is simply to define the limits of variation from the nor?nal Proc. Nat. Mus. 78 ;3

.Hav

S,

1878.

34 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.

typeiu a j^iveii direction, J would provisioually propose that they be desifjnated as variety hrevicaudata.

The

specimensfrom the Saint John's River, Florida, are extremely variable in every respect. Certain individuals

show

a tendency to elongation of thehead

and

fins,

and

alsoa slenderness oftheposterior partof thebody, andnearlyallthe individualsfromthat regionare

more

lightly

and

gracefully shaped.

They

^all have a tendencyto a yellow coloration, especially

upon

the caudal lobes. I have not feltjustified, hovrever, in callingit avariety.

I havenot

had

an opportunity to study the

Maine

schools, but

am

inclined tobelieve that their differences are very perceptible.

TahJe of Measurements.

CunxKlmiiiibivofspecimen.

Locality

Extremekngtb ^' Body:

Greatest heigbt Lea«theiu'litoftail

Lengthofcaudaljxiduuclo

Head

:

Greatestlength

Distancefrom snouttonape Greatestwidth

Lengthofsuoutfromperp.fromcentre oforbit.

Lengthofoperculum ,

Lengthofmaxillary Lengtii ofmandible

instancefrom snouttocentre of orbit Dorsal

:

Distance from snout Lengthofbase

Origin of pectoraltooriginof dorsal

Endof dorsal toendofanal Lengtii of longestray

Lengthoflastray.Z. ,

Anal

:

Distancefrom suout

Lengthofbase ,

Origin of analtoorigin of doisal Lengthof longestray Lengthoflastray Caudal

:

Lengthofmiddlerays

Lengthof externalray.s,superior interior Pectoril

:

Distancefrom snout Distanceoftipfrom suout

Length ,

Lengthoflongest axillaryappendage Ventral:

Distancefrom snout Length

Originof^-entraltoendof dorsal

Dorsalrays ,

Acalrays

10,405=709

I

10,405=0rig.

C.A.S. I No.247.

"Wood'-sHoll, Mass.

Millim. lODths. Millim. lOOths Wood'slloll,

Mass.

Veryfat.

251 I... .

38i

32 20 15 10 9 14i ITS lOi 54 19 41 12i

6'

73 14 39 Oh

23 26J 30 19 11 53 38

Plump.

243 I....

31 20i 10

9 14i 171 lOJ 51 171 33|

24 11

14J 33

51 4j 4J 20A 23' 32 48 n.'>

20,0(36 a.

Wood'sHoll, Mass.

Millim. lOOths.

M

17 101-

49 17.^

35i 2.5 12.V

]5i 30

0?

H

PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 35

Tableof Measurements

—

^Continued.

Curreutnumberofspecimen.

Locality

Extremel^^ngth

Body

:

Greatestbeight Head:

Greatest length

Distance from snouttonape Greatest width

Lengthofsnoutfromperp.fromcentre oforbit.

Lengthofoperculum Lengthofmaxillary Lengthofmandible

Distancefrom snouttocentre of orbit Dorsal

:

Distance fromsnout Lengthofbase

Origin of pectoraltoorigin of dorsal

Endof dorsal toendof anal Lengthof longestray Lengthoflastray.^.'.

Anal:

Distancefrom snout Lengthofbase

Onjiin of analtooriginof dorsal Lengt.h of longestray Lengthoflastray Caudal

:

Jjcngth ofmiddlerays Lengthof external rays, superior

interior Tectoral

:

Distancefrom snout Distanceoftipfrom euout Lengthoflongest axillaryappendage Ventral

:

Distance from snout Length

Origin of ventral toendof dorsal Dorsal rays

Anal rays

20,GGCb.

Wood'snoil, Mass.

Millim. lOOths.

m

9 14J 174 12"

53 19 35 24 12 6 72 15 34 GJ 5"

22J

32 4a*

18

18,049b.

SaintJohn's Uivei-Florida.

Millim.

9i 33"

lOOths.

IndianEiver, Florida.

Millim. lOOths, Fat 196

24"

27 30 47 17 50 9 33

Currentnumberofspecimen.

Locality

Extremelength Body

:

Greatestlieigbt Leastheight oftail

Lengthofcaudalpeduncle Head

:

Greatestlength

Distance from snouttonape

Greatestwidth ,

Lengthofsnoutfromperp.fromcentre oforbit.

Lengthofoperculum Lengthofmaxillary Lengthofmandible ;

Distancefrom snouttocentre of orbit Dor.sal

:

Distance from snout Lengthofbase

Origin of pectoraltoorigin of dorsal

Endof dorsaltoendof anal Lengthof longestray Lengthoflastray

5,152.

WestFlorida.

Millim. 100th;

10 9*

13"

15

17,927.

SaintJohn's Eiver, Florida.

Millim.! lOOths.

3U

20|

12 10

SaintJohn's River, Florida.

Millim. lOOths

14 18

Hi

52 21 34,V

26 12 5

33 20.V

12' lO.V 9i 14.V 18"

lO.V

52.V

n"

34 25 12

'Broke'

36 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.

Table of Measurements

—

Continued.

Currentnumberofspecimen Locality

II

WestFloiida.

Anal

:

Distance from snout Lengthofbase

Origin of analtooriginof dorsal Lengthof longestray Lengthoflastray Caudal:

Lengthofmiddle rays Lengthof external rays, superior

inferior Pectoral

:

Distance frcm snout Distanceoftipfrom snout Length

Lengthof longest axillaryappendage Ventral:

Distance from snout Length

Originof ventral toendof dorsal Dorsal rays

Analrays

Millim. lOOths,

17,927. 19,040.

SaintJohn's SaintJohn's River, Florida, liiver, Florid.i.

Millim. lOOlhs. Millim.'lOOtbs.

68

PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 37

TableofMeastirements

—

Continued.

Currentnumberofspecimen.

Locality

14,846a.

Noank, Conn.

14,846 b.

Noanli,Conn.

Var.axirea.

M.C. Z.

RioJaneiro.

MiUim. lOOths,

Extremelength Body:

Greatestlieiglit

Head:

Greatest length

Distancefrom snouttonape

Lengthofsnoutliompeip.fromcentre ofoibit.

Lengthofoperculum LengthOi"maxillary Lengthofmandible

Distance fromsnouttocentreof orbit Dorsal

:

Distancefrom snout Lengthofbase

Origin of pectoraltooriginof dorsal.

Endofdor.saltoendofanal Lengthoflongestray I^ength oflastray Anal

:

Di.stancefrom snout Length of base

Origin of analtoorigin of dorsal.

.

Lengthoflongestray Lengthoflastray Caudal

:

Lengthofmiddle rays

Lengthofexternal lays, superior, inferior^. Pectoral

:

Distancefrom snout Distanceoftipfrom snout Length

V.ntral:

Distancefrom snout Length

Origin of ventraltoendof dorsal.

Dorsalrays Analrays

Millim. lOOths

29 20 10 9J 13"

14A 10' 49 19 35 25 10 6 74 15 36J

4i 4'

Millim. lOOtb.s,

6 721 16"

I 37

1 5

ii.

5i 16 20J 28 43 15 50 7 36

IL17

19

Currentnumberofspecimen

38 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.

Btevoortiapectinata, (Jenyns)Gill.

Diagnosis.

—

Proportions of head

and

jaws as inB, tyrannus. Height of body almostthree-eighths of total length, and greater proportionally than in B. tyrannus. Fins nearlyas inB.tyrannus,but uniformlyaver- agingslightly more; theheightofthe dorsal

somewhat

lessthan three- twentieths of totallength; that of the anal equal to or slightly less than half the length of the maxillary.

The

caudal fin is

somewhat

longerand

more

furcate,the length oftheexternal rays never being less than five-sixthsofthe length ofthe head, while that of themedial rays remains proportionallythe

same

asinthespeciesfirstdescribed. Inser- tion of ventral

somewhat

behind tip of pectoral, thistin and the dorsal being uuiformly

somewhat

farther back than in B. tyrannus; theinser- tion of thelatter from one to four one-hundredthsposterior to apoint equidistantfrom the snout and the baseof themedian caudalrays,and, asinB. tyrannus, behind the vertical from the insertion ofthe ventrals.

Scales very large, considerablyserrated, and arranged regularly in 18to20 transverse

and

50longitudinal rows. Scalesformingsheath at base of pectoralnot large.

Operculum

smooth,or with inconspicuous

and

few striations. Squamation

upou

lobes of caudal extensive

and

conspicuous.

Variations.

— The variations in the individual specimens studied are

not of great importance,

and

are indicated ⁱⁿ the table of measure- ments.

Tableof Measurements.

Currentnumberofspecimen.

Locality

Extremelength Body

:

Greatestheight Head:

Greatest length

Distancefrom snouttonape Lengthofmaxillary Lengthofmandible Dorsal

:

Distance fromsnout Lengthoflongestray Lengthoflastray Anal

:

Distance fromsnout Lengthcf longestray Lengthoflastray Caudal

:

Lengthofmiddlerays

Lengthof external rays, superior inferior.

Pectoral

:

Distance from snout Distanceoftipfrom snout Length

Ventral;

Distance from snont Length

Dorsal rays Analrays

Numberof scalesin lateral line Nunibei'ol l):,n>iverserows

1709.

Paraguay.

Millim. lOOths,

II. 17

I. 21

abt.50 abt.20

36 33 21 14i 18"

54

m

_6"

70J 7 6 6i 24+

26 32

.iO 18

9i

M.C. Z. a.

Rio Grande.

Millim. lOOths

IL 17

I. 20

4a 20

30 21 13 16 53 12 6 70 6 4 6 25 27 29 47 17 48 8

M.C. Z.b.

Eio Grande.

Aver- age.

Millim.

IL ¹⁷

I. 20

49 20

lOOths. lOOths.

31

•21 14 17

1-2

30^

48

nf

49.i 8J

PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 39

Brevoortia patronus,sp. noc,Goode.

Diagnosis.

— Head largerthan ia the otherAmerican forms, its length usuallymore than one-third thatof thebody, the maxillaryabout three- twentiethsof the length ofthebody. Height ofbody always more than three-eighths ofitstotal length,itsanteriorinferior profile cultrate,con- vex,giving an obtuselyrounded profile to the subpectoraloutline, and throwingthesnoutabovethemedianhorizontal axis ofthe body. Fins longand powerful} the heightofthedorsalusuallyequaltothelengthof the maxillary, and about three-tenthsof total length of body ; thatof theanalequalto or greater than half thelength ofthe maxillary: that of the ventralone-tenth of body-length; lengthof middle caudal rays always more thanone-fifthand oftenmore thanone-fourth the lengthof thehead, that of the exterior raysalmost equal in length to the head and rarely less thanfive-sixths of its length. Insertion of theventral underor slightly posterior tothetipof thepectoral. Insertionof dorsal alwaysposterior to a point ou the dorsal outline,equidistant from the snout and the base of themedial caudal rays(sometimes as much as seven onehundredths of total length), and alwaysin advanceof the verticalfrom the insertion ofthe ventrals.

Scalesof

medium

size, withentire,tluted margins, arranged regularly (in young) in24to 25 transvereand 50 to70 longitudinal rows. Scales forming sheath atbase of pectoralvery large, round. Squamutioa of caudal lobes inconspicuous. Axillary a])pendages large.

Operculum

smooth orvery delicatelystriated. Scapular blotch inconspicuous.

The

variations of individuals aresufficientlyindicatedinthe subjoined table of measurements.

The

most characteristic specimensoccur at BrazosSantiago,Tex.,

and

themorenorthernspecimens

show

atendency

to shortening up of the head, jaws,

and

fins.

Description.*

— Thebody ismuchcompressed, especially below and in

advanceofthepectorals; the contourofthebelly betweentheventrals and the gill-opening is cultrate, projecting, obtusely rounded.

The

height of thebody equals two-fifths of itslength, and theleast height of the body at the tail isone-fourth ofitsgreatestheight infrontofthe pectorals.

The

length ofthecaudal i^eduncle, from the end oftheanal to the base ofthe exteriorlobes of the caudal,isone-fifth of the height ofthebody,and one-twelfth (0.08) ofits length.

The

head is elongatedand large, triangular; itslength is

more

than one-third (0.35

and

0.34) that of the body,and itsheight at the napeis slightly morethan itslength.

The

length ofthe skull, asindicated

by

thedistancefromsnouttonape,isaboutone-fourth(0.24and 0.24.])ofthe lengthofthebody,

and

the greatestwidth ofthe head(0.13)slightly ex- ceedsthe half ofthis.

The

widthofthe interorbitalisaboutequaltothe diameter oftheorbit,andslightly

more

than one-fourth the length ofthe head.

The

maxillary reachesto thevertical from theposteriormargin

*Toavoidcoufusion, thisisdrawnup fromtlieHrazosSantiajjjospecimeus,whichare most characteristicallydeveloped.

40 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.

ofthepupil; tbeinaudible nearlytotheverticalfrom the posteriormar- gin of the orbit.

The

length of the maxillaryis about equal to that of the longest ray of the dorsal tin (0.15 to O.IG), that of the mandible

(0.19) half thedistancefrom theorigin of the anal to the origin of the dorsal (0.38)or tothe lengthof thebase oftheanal(0.18).

The

distance from the tipofthesnoutto the centre oftheorbit (0.13 to 0.13f⁾ equals the greatestwidth of the head.

The

length of the operculum is equal to that of theeye^: the o[)ercular striations are fine, but distinct and numerous.

The

dorsal tin is inserted posteriorly to a point equidistant from thesnout and the baseof the caudal

and

in advanceof theverti- calfrom the insertion of the veutrals. Itslength of base (0.20 to 0.21i]

isdouble that of the operculum. Its greatest height is nearly half the lengthofthehead. Itis

composed

of19 rays,ofwhichthe third isthe longest. Itsupper edge^isslightlyemarginated.

The

height of thelast ray ^0.10) is equal to halfthe length ofthe base.

The

distance of the anal from the snout is slightly lessthan three- fourths of the length of the body (0.70-0.72), its length of base (0.18- 0.18_1) one-fourth of this distance.

The

distancefrom theorigin of the ])ectoral to the origin of the dorsal (0.37-0.37i) ^is aboutequalto that from the origin of the anal to that of the dorsal (0.38). Its height (.09-.09i)^isabout halfitslengthof base,itsleastheight(at lastray) one- third of the

same

(.OG-.Oo^l).

The

tin is

composed

of 22 rays, its edges slightly emarginated.

The

caudal tin is

much

forked

and

elongate, the middlecaudal rays (0.08)halfthelengthof the maxillary,theexteriorraysabove (0.31-0.32) twice that length, the lower exterior rays (0.35-0.34) nearly equal to twice the length of the mandible.

The

pectoral tin is strong, falcate, inserted under the angle of the subopercnlum,at a distance from the snout(0.35-0.34) about

midway

to tbe insertion of the anal. Its tipextends beyond the insertion of the veutrals, its length (0.22) being nearly two-thirds that of the head.

The

axillary api)endagesare half as long asthetin, or more.

Tiie distance of the ventral from the snout (0.54-0.55) is about the

same

as that of the dorsal, though by the contour of the body it is

thrown slightly behind the point of dorsal origin. Itslength (0.10) is

equal to thatofthe lastray of the dorsal.

The

scales are quite regularly arrangedin about 24 to 25 horizontal

and

50verticalrows. Theirfree portion is narrowand high.

They

are entire at the edges,and lluted or crenulated. There are two rows of differentiated scales

upon

each side of the dorsal line, but they are scarcely pectinated.

The

scales forming the sheath atthe base of the pectoral are large

and

round.

Color.

—

^Silvery,with a brassy sheenuponthesides and greenishgray upon the back.

PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.

TahleofMeasurements.

41

Currentnuiul)er ofspecimen.

Locality

Extremelength Body

:

Greatestlieight Leastiieightoftail Leniith of caudal ix-duuele....

Head:

Greatestlength

Distancefrom.snout tonape llreatestwidth

I>enf:thofsnoutfrom)>eri>.from centre of orbit^... .-

Lengthofoptrcuhim Lengthofmaxillary Lengthofmaudtble

Distance from snouttocentre of orbit

Dorsal

:

Distance fromsnout

Lengthof base

t)riginof pectoral to origin of dorsal

Endofdor.saltoendofanal Lengthoflongestray T^ength oflastray Anal:

Distancefrom snout Lengthofbase

Origin of analtooriginof dorsal Lengthoflongestray Lengthoflastray Caudal:

Lengthofmiddlerays Lengthof externalrays,superior,

inferior.

Pectoral

:

Distance from snout Distanceoftipfrom snout Length

Length of longest axillary ap-

pendage ^.'

Ventral

:

Distance from snout Length

Origin of ventraltoendof dorsal Dorsalrays

Analrays

Numberof.scalesin lateral line

Brazos Santiago Texas.

Millim. lOOths.

19 22 47to 50

40i

U"

8

:}.)

\:i

1-2 10 16 13 13J

r.3

21i 37 25 15 10

892b. 891rt.

BrazosSantiago,I Mouthof Hio Mouthof llio Texas. ! Grande. ^: (Irande.

Millim. lOOths. Millim lOOths.!Millim. ICOths,

19 22 47 to50

40.1 10

8 :!4 24 i:{

11.V ij LJJ

18.!;

18 22 abt.6f

12 11 Ki 19

51 17 37

2(3

l^i

70A 19"

36

331

.")3

abt.65 414 11

:t.i

11 11 12 I'U 13

52 19 39 28 17 9 09 20 39

25H- 27-i-

32 52 20

51

3.")

42 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.

Table of Meastirementu

—

Continued.

Currentnumberofspecimen.

Locality

Extremelength IJody

:

Greatestheight Head:

(Iieatestlength

Distancefrom snouttonape Lengthofsnoutfromperp.from

centreof oibit Lengthofoperculum Lengthofmaxilhiry Lengthofmandible

Distancefrom snouttocentre of orbit

Dorsal

:

Distance from snout Lengthofbase

Origin ofpectoral to origin of dorsal

Endof dorsaltoendofanal Lengthof longestray Lengthoflastray Anal:

Distancefrom snout Lengthofbase

Originof analtooriginof dorsal Lengthof longestray Lengthoflastray Caudail

:

Lengthofmiddle rays Lengthofexternal rays, superior

inferior.

Pectoral

:

Distance fromsnout Distanceoftipfrom snout Length

Ventral

:

Distancefrom snout Length

Originof ventral toendof dorsal

.

Dorsalrays Analrays

iv'imiberof scales inlateral line

Mouthof llio Grande.

5,864 a. 5,864b.

Millim. lOOths.,Millim.ilOOths. Millim. lOOths,

18 '21

65 or more.

40 30 22h

Hi

10 14

m

86

19

I 37

impt. 7

iimpf. 5

' 7

27 30 Xi 48 18 53

It 3-2

30

iil.V

10 10 13i 10

abt. 70

18

£0 abt.55

57 ISi 33 20 li 5i 70 17 36 4 G '•25"

5864c.

Millim. lOOths.

19 21 abt.55

3S\

33 24 11 10

Uh

17.

i

70_i ly 37

UESC'BIPTIO.X

OF

t;AUI..OIiATIIjUS ITIIC'ROPS,

A

^IVEAV !«iPECIE!il

OF

FI8II FROiTl

THE

^OeJI..F C'OA.ST

OF

FJ.OKIDA.

By

C.

BROW^ CiOODE and TARLETO.lf

^II.

BEAIV.

The

SmitbsonianInstitution has received from Mr. Silas Stearns, of the Pensacola Ice

Company,

Pensacola, Fla., afish

new

to thefauna of the United States,

and

believed to be

new

to science. Thisfish

was

taken

March

18, 1878, on the Snapper Bank, off Pensacola, in 3.1

fathoms ofwater. It

was

packed iu ice,

and

arrivedingoodcondition,

March

L*2, at the National iMnseum, where it was cast in plaster,

and

sketched by Mr. Shindler. It is

now

a fine alcoholic specimen, No.

Ii0,971 of the Fish Catalogue.

Caulolatilus mlcrops is related to the Brazilian form Canlolatilufi chrysops(Cuvier

and

Valenciennes) Gill,andthe

Cuban

form Caulolatilus cyanops Poey, described in 1867.*

Of

the former, two specimensonly

"IJepertorio Fisico-Nattirtil dela IsladeCubit,^i, \k'M'2.