8 2 PAPERS FROM TORTUGAS LABORATORY vol. xxxiv 



extending beyond base of posterior rays if deflexed; and by the plain color, no 

 dark bars being present. 



Southern Florida, and presumably the West Indies. S. F. H. 



Vomer setapinnis (Mitchill). Horsefish 



Waste from the tern rookery on Long Key provided the single specimen ob- 

 tained locally. This is 35 mm. long (standard length 27 mm.), depth 25 mm. 

 D. VII-I,2i; A. II-I,i8; P. 19. The first 4 dorsal spines more or less elongated, the 

 2d and 3d much the longest, the former depressed attaining base of 7th ray; re- 

 maining spines of anterior dorsal short, strong, compressed, sharp-pointed; 

 ventrals extending almost to the 2 anterior anal spines. 



Color dusky above; sides silvery; a distinct black line from dorsal origin to 

 pupil; a vertical dash of black as broad as the pupil and as high as the eye's 

 diameter intersecting lateral line just behind its curved portion. W. H. L. 



This fish is rather rare also at Key West, especially during the summer. 



It is recognized by the deep, very strongly compressed body; very steep, nearly 

 vertical, anterior profile; prominently arched lateral line, with weak bony scutes 

 in straight part; none of the rays of second dorsal or anal produced in adult, these 

 fins being very low. 



Atlantic coast of tropical America, straying northward to or beyond Cape Cod. 



S.F.H. 



Selene vomer (Linnaeus). Moonfish 



A single observation was recorded in Dr. Longley's notes, as follows: "Speci- 

 men of Selene vomer at surface in channel off south dock, Fort Jefferson — about 

 175 mm. long." 



This species is not rare at Key West. It is rather surprising, therefore, that it 

 was not seen oftener at Tortugas. 



The deep ovate (depth about 1.2 to 1.5 in standard length), very strongly com- 

 pressed body, with very steep anterior profile; the absence of bony scutes in the 

 lateral line; and the greatly produced anterior lobes of the second dorsal and the 

 anal in the adult distinguish the moonfish from other local species. 



Atlantic coast of tropical America, straying northward to or beyond Cape Cod. 



S. F. H. 



Alectis ciliaris (Bloch). Threadfin 



Dr. Longley has only the note: "A single school of perhaps 12 at outer edge 

 of reef off Laboratory dock. Anterior dorsal and anal rays produced and trailing 

 filaments, twice as long as whole body, and extending behind it for half its 

 length." 



I may add that the dorsal and anal filaments are much longer in the young 

 than in adults. I have seen young about 25 mm. long (at Beaufort, North Caro- 

 lina) in which the filaments were four or five times as long as the body. Simi- 

 larly, the ventral fins are very long in the young (about as long as the fish in 

 specimens about 15 mm. long), becoming much shorter with age. On the other 



