~m PAPERS FROM TORTUGAS LABORATORY vol. xxxiv 



Family ISTIOPHORIDAE. Sailfishes 



Istiophorus sp. 



One juvenile sailfish, 9 mm. long, taken off West Buoy, June 6, 1929, is in- 

 cluded in the collection. 



This specimen agrees well with Liitken's illustration (Spolia atlantica, 1880, 

 p. 441, pi. II, fig. 11). Both jaws somewhat produced, upper scarcely longer than 

 lower; mouth very large, slightly oblique, provided with rather large teeth; angle 

 of preopercle with a very large spine, about as long as the part of the head an- 

 terior to it; another spine at shoulder, about half as long, being a continuation of 

 a ridge extending backward from over the eye; dorsal fin low and single, the 

 rays not sufficiently developed to be counted; caudal fin slightly damaged, but 

 apparently round. 



Color above very dark, somewhat paler underneath, the caudal peduncle be- 

 coming abruptly pale just before base of caudal; fins all colorless. 



The specimen is too immature to attempt a specific identification, especially in 

 view of the comparatively recent effort to recognize three species of sailfishes in 

 the Florida fauna. S. F. H. 



Family CORYPHAENIDAE. Dolphins 



Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus 



These fish are rarely seen in the shallows, for they live chiefly outside. Four 

 large ones were seen, however, within the lagoon, and Thompson (Jordan and 

 Thompson, Bull. U. S. Bur. Fish., vol. 24, 1904 (1905), p. 238) collected the 

 young from floating Sargassum inshore. 



Dolphins are enemies of flying fishes, which they flush like quail, and some- 

 times follow and catch as they fall after a fumbling start or full flight. Young 

 dolphins suffer greatly from the attack of terns, and are easily one of the six 

 species most commonly collected on the Bird Key breeding ground. W. H. L. 



The dolphin is recognized by its elongate, compressed body, highest at nape, 

 especially in adult males; by its small cycloid scales; and by its long dorsal and 

 anal fins, the former beginning over the nape and being composed of about 55 

 to 60 rays (no definite spines), the latter shorter with about 25 to 30 rays. 



Reported from both sides of the Atlantic and also from the western Pacific. 



S. F. H. 



Family NOMEIDAE. Man-of-war Fishes 



Nomeus gronovii (Gmelin) 



Pelagic; commonly associated with the Portuguese man-of-war, beneath each 

 of which several may usually be found. 



Paris blue above, solid or in patches; this color continued ventrally in bands 

 or blotches, through which gleaming silver shimmers; a bar of blue across each 

 caudal lobe at base, and spots of blue at base of anal, extending upon its web; 



