584 NEW YOUK STATE MUSEUM 



shorter than eye, the third and fourth longest, equal to snout 

 and eye combined, the base of the fin as long as the ventraL 

 Soft dorsal long and low, one fourth longer than head, the 

 longest ray one third as long as head. Caudal slightly produced 

 in the middle, the middle rays one half as long as head. Anal 

 base three eighths as long as head; the first spine minute, sec- 

 ond spine one fourth as long as head, first ray about one half 

 length of head, last ray two ninths as long as head. Pectoral 

 long^ reaching beyond origin of soft dorsal. Ventral one sixth 

 of total length without caudal, not reaching nearly to vent. 

 Interorbital width somewhat exceeds diameter of eye. 



D. X, I, 27 to 30; A. II, 8; V. I, 5; P. I, 16; scales 9-60-12^ 

 pyloric caeca eight; gill rakers 7+16. 



Color grayish silvery, with bright reflections; sides and back 

 with narrow, irregular, undulating lines of dots; dorsal fins with 

 three lines of dots along base. 



The croaker inhabits the east coast of the United States^ 

 ranging from Cape Cod to Texas; it is not very common north 

 of the Chesapeake. It grows to the length of 15 inches and 

 is an important food fish. The fish was described by Mitchill 

 but was unknown to De Kay from personal observation. 

 Though known in Gravesend bay, the species is a very uncommon 

 one there. The only specimen recorded at Woods Hole Mass. is 

 15 inches long; it was taken in a trap at the breakwater in 

 Buzzards bay on Sep. 9, 1893, 



Genus menticiruhus Gill 



Body comparatively elongate, little compressed; head long^ 

 subconic, the bluntish snout considerably projecting beyond the 

 mouth; mouth small, horizontal, both jaws with bands of villi- 

 form teeth, the outer teeth in the upper jaw more or less en- 

 larged; chin with a single stoutish barbel; preopercle with it» 

 membranaceous edge serrulate; gill rakers short and tubercular 

 or obsolete; dorsal spines high, slender, 10 or 11 in number (13 

 in Cirrimens); second dorsal long and low; caudal fin 

 with the lower angle rounded, the upper sharp; anal fin with a 

 single weak spine; no air bladder. Lower pharyngeals separate^ 



