BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES PISH COMMISSION. (jj 



the eye equal to one-third the length of the head, to the snout, and to 

 the interorbital space. The width of the head across the occiput is 

 equal to one-half the length of the head. Lower jaw oblique and equal 

 in length to the snout. Mouth small, the cleft being about one-half the 

 length of the lower jaw. Upper jaw concave and protractile. Lower 

 jaw projecting slightly beyond the upper. 



The greatest depth in the length 6 times. The caudal peduncle is a 

 little shorter than the head and its medium depth one-half its length. 

 Dorsal tin IV or V-T, 8 or 9 ; Anal I, 17 or 18. The first spine of the 

 the dorsal is situated a little in front of the first anal ray, and some- 

 what nearer the base of the caudal than the snout. Height of spinous 

 dorsal equal to one half the head. The two dorsals are separated by a 

 space equal to twice the diameter of the eye. Beginning of the second 

 dorsal two-thirds of the distance from the snout to the base of the cau- 

 dal. Its height and length each equal to one-half the length of the head. 

 First anal fin ray situated equally distant from the posterior border of 

 the eye and the base of the caudal. Length of anal equal to head, its 

 height three-fifths of the same unit. Pectoral fins extending beyond 

 the insertion of the ventrals ; the latter attaining the vent. 



The anal aperture is a longitudinal slit, having a length in the larger 

 individuals, equal to two-thirds the diameter of the eye. The begin- 

 ning of the first, or spinous, dorsal is immediately over the anterior end 

 of this slit. 



There are 45 transverse rows of scales, and 10 horizontal rows at the 

 beginning of the first dorsal. The top of the head is covered with large 

 scales as far forward as the anterior margin of the pupil. This covering 

 of scales descends on each side, overlying the opercle and sending for- 

 ward below the eye a row of enlarged scales to the angle of the lower jaw. 

 On the lower edge of the opercle are two rows of smaller scales. The 

 lateral line tuns above the silvery band for about 8 scales anteriorly, after 

 which it drops below this band and continues thus until near the caudal 

 fin where it runs into the band. This stripe, so characteristic of this 

 genus, lies principally on the fifth row of scales below the dorsal fins. It 

 is lacking on the upper and the lower ends of the scales of this row, while 

 it involves the lower ends of those of the fourth row and the upper ends 

 of those of the sixth row. Its width is one-half the diameter of the eye. 

 Its upper edge is bordered by a narrow line of leaden blue. The scales 

 of the body have entire edges. The postero-superior and postero-inferior 

 borders of each scale are straight and meet each other at an obtuse angle. 

 The exposed portions of the scales are therefore rhombic. 



The color is about that of M. notata. The edges of the scales on the 

 upper surface are marked with a row of black dots, but not so conspic- 

 uously as the above species. There is a dusky band along each side of 

 the anal fin. Soft dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins sprinkled with black 

 dots ; other fins plain. 



A few specimens were obtained at Memphis; many at Vicksburgj 

 Bull. U. S. F. C, 82 5 Oct. 6, 1882. 



