1941 CATALOGUE OF FISHES OF TORTUGAS y^ 



dorsal fins bluish; pectorals also bluish basally or throughout their dorsal two- 

 thirds; blue, in diffuse lines, following the rays of the great ventrals and spread- 

 ing over their posterior margins; eye blue above, with a pigmented sector un- 

 exposed in its normal position; iris silvery, crossed by an oblique line extending 

 to angle of mouth. W. H. L. 



This fish is characterized by its oblong compressed body; depth in standard 

 length 3.0 to 3.8; D. IX to XI-1,25 to 27; A. 111,25 to 27; ventrals much larger 

 than pectorals in young, becoming proportionately shorter with age, fan-shaped, 

 and inserted under base of pectorals. 



Widely distributed, straying northward to Cape Cod. S. F. H. 



Psenes cyanophrys Cuvier and Valenciennes 



Observed only in collections of fishes dropped by terns in their rookery on 

 Bird Key. Nearly 150, up to 120 mm. in length, were picked up at different times. 

 Twice 2 were adhering to one another, having been regurgitated together. One 

 each was found similarly with Monacanthus hispidus and Trachitrops crtimen- 

 ophthalma, and 2 with Caranx ruber. The combination indicates a pelagic fish, 

 possibly occurring about the Sargassum, where young M. hispidus is common. 



D. X-1,25%; A. 111,27. Color, as far as determinable, brownish yellow, with 

 longitudinal rows of brown dots on side; caudal yellow. W. H. L. 



This species differs strikingly from the preceding one in having much smaller 

 ventral fins, which are not larger than the pectorals. Furthermore, the body is 

 deeper, the depth generally being contained in the length less than 2.0 times. 



Widely distributed in tropical seas, straying northward at least to Florida. 



S. F. H. 



Family CARANGIDAE. Pompanos, etc. 

 Decapterus punctatus (Agassiz) 



These fish were taken about a submerged light at night, and also in water 11 

 to 22 fathoms deep. 



In life over bare bottom they did not show the greens and yellows of the dead 

 fish. Instead, they were faintly gray, countershaded, silvery below, with a narrow 

 brown or black line of width of pupil from snout to caudal. The stomachs of 

 specimens examined contained copepods. 



Fifteen to 20 specimens, about 90 to 100 mm. long, were picked up among the 

 refuse of the Bird Key rookery. W. H. L. 



The elongate, roundish body, with depth 4.3 to 5.3 in standard length, the very 

 prominent scutes in the straight part of the lateral line, and a single detached 

 finlet following both dorsal and anal characterize the species. The fin formulas 

 are: D. VII or VIII-29 to 31-1; A. 11-1,25 to 27-1. Lateral scutes 35 to 42; gill 

 rakers about 35. 



Atlantic coast of tropical America, sometimes northward to Cape Cod. 



S. F. H. 



