LOCAL FAUNA 



A Snake Eel 



One of the Snake Eels {Ophichthus ocellatus) was taken on 

 Sullivan's Island, April 9, 1910, during a field trip of the younger 

 section of the Natural History Society. 



The distribution of this handsome species is given by Jordan 

 and Evermann ^ as ''south to Brazil, north to Pensacola." The 

 capture of a specimen at Charleston is therefore not only the 

 first record for South Carolina, but also establishes a new north- 

 ern limit for the species. 



SCULPIN 



A Sculpin received in the summer of 1908 proves to be Scor- 

 paeria plumieri, a form common from the Florida Keys south- 

 ward to Brazil, but apparently not hitherto recorded farther 

 north. The specimen here described is without data, but since 

 it was received in a fresh condition, there can be no doubt but 

 that it was caught in the immediate vicinity of Charleston. 



Short Big-eye 



The Short Big-eye {Pseudopriacanthus alius) also belongs to the 

 West Indian fauna and is taken occasionally on the Grouper 

 Bank, off the South Carolina Coast. Two specimens from this 

 locahty have been recorded — one by Jordan and Evermann ^ and 

 one by the writer.^ A third specimen was received in the sum- 

 mer of 1908, and is of interest as exceeding the maximum length 

 hitherto recorded. It measures 12| inches (in formalin), while 

 Jordan and Evermann state that their Charleston specimen, 

 measuring 11 inches, is the largest they have seen. 



These interesting records, based on specimens casually brought 



to the Museum, make it evident that the biological survey of the 



fishes will afford valuable results, especially in establishing new 



northern limits for West Indian species. 



P. M. Rea. 



> Bull. U. S. Nat. Mu3. No. 47, Part I, P. 383. ^ Ibid, 1240. 



3 Bull. Chas. Mds., II, 1906, 55. 



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