68 PAPERS FROM TORTUGAS LABORATORY vol. xxxiv 



position of the spinous dorsal, which has its origin well in advance o£ the anal in 

 the American specimen, instead of over or slightly behind the origin of the anal 

 as in European ones. This last character was checked in 5 specimens taken off 

 Key West, Florida (U. S. Nat. Mus. nos. 73103, 73104, 73106), and found to 

 agree with Fowler's specimen. 



On the basis of the differences discovered, Fowler named his specimen Macro- 

 rhamphosus otteri. It seems highly probable that Dr. Longley's material should 

 have been referred to this recently described species, especially as specimens from 

 the vicinity of Key West apparently are of that species. 



Both sides of the Atlantic, if identification given herein is accepted. S. F. H. 



Family ATHERINIDAE. Silversides 



Hepsetia stipes (Miiller and Troschel). Hardhead 



Common along shore during the summer, but decreasing in abundance as the 

 season advances. With males, at least, in full breeding condition, with sperm 

 streaming from urogenital papillae upon the least pressure, the sexes occur to- 

 gether in sizes varying not less than from 63 to 90 mm. 



A dark transverse line between anal and excretory openings marks the genital 

 orifice, which may be forcibly opened by slight abdominal compression. In all of 

 many specimens examined the eggs were of many sizes, and showed no tendency 

 to mature at once. From an early stage of development the chorion is sparsely 

 covered by 75 or more long filaments swollen at the base. Until the egg is well 

 grown they lie close against its surface. In length they may exceed considerably 

 the egg's diameter, and they form efficient holdfasts. 1 



The schooling hardheads are sometimes attacked by needlefish or gray snap- 

 pers and by passing schools of runners. The hardheads' own food is highly varied. 

 The fish are apparently nocturnal feeders. The pellets they drop if held in con- 

 finement sometimes contain very many copepods, carapaces of crustaceans larger 

 than copepods, or cuticula, setae, and jaws of annelids, and one contained the 

 shells of small gastropods. Miscellaneous crustaceans and crustacean larvae, 

 lamellibranchs and molluscan larvae, and foraminifera were also present. 



In design this species shows a feature common to many surface fishes, the 

 head being approximately triangular in cross section, with eyes looking down 

 and out, scarcely visible from above, both fully visible from below. The fish is 

 greenish above, with a narrow line of darker green from opercular margin to 

 base of caudal; rest of the side, including the iris, silvery. W. H. L. 



This species is characterized by its short, thick body (depth 4.6 to 5.2 in 

 standard length) ; low, broad head, as wide as deep; short, blunt snout (4.2 to 4.7 

 in head) ; and large scales (36 to 39 in lateral series). D. IV or V-8 to 10; A. 12 

 or 13. 



West Indies to Florida. S. F. H. 



1 For information concerning adhesive filaments attached to the eggs of other species of 

 Atherinidae, see Kuntz and Radcliffe (Bull. U. S. Bur. Fish., vol. 35, 1915-1916 (1917), pp. 

 127-130), and Hildebrand (ibid., vol. 38, 1 921-1922 (1922), pp. 1 13-120). — S. F. H. 



