jaq PAPERS FROM TORTUGAS LABORATORY vol. xxxiv 



Eucinostomus havana (Nichols) 



Xystaema havana Nichols, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., vol. 31, 1912, p. 189, fig. 2 — 



Havana. 

 Eucinostomus mowbrayi Beebe and Tee- Van, Zoologica, vol. 13, 1932, p. 115 — Bermuda. 



At least a few may often be found off the eastern side of the Laboratory in the 

 partial shelter of a ledge of coquina. Nothing more is required to bring together 

 such as are near than to wade out into the water a little more than waist deep 

 and stir up sand, which calls them to feed. With them comes Eucinostomus 

 lejroyi. The young were taken sometimes with those of E. lefroyi and E. gula 

 in shallow water about Long Key and inside Bird Key reef. 



This species is very rare in museums, and in only one instance were specimens 

 discovered under false labels. The type of E. mowbrayi, from Bermuda, appears 

 to differ only in the proportions of its 2d and 3d anal spines, and probably repre- 

 sents no more than an individual variation. W. H. L. 



Measurements and counts of 4 specimens, ranging in length from 135 to 165 

 mm. (standard length 105 to 126 mm.), are summarized as follows: Depth 2.7; 

 head 3.2 to 3.3. Eye in head 2.8 to 5.0. D. IX^o 1 /^; A. 111,7*4; scales 46 to 48, in 

 four complete rows between lateral line and base of 1st dorsal spine. 



As this species and E. argenteus are very similar in external appearance, and 

 as the color of preserved specimens appears to be identical, it seems desirable to 

 mention a difference that does not seem to have been published, namely, that in 

 E. havana the pectoral fins are densely covered with scales (at least in adults), 

 whereas in E. argenteus they have at most only a few scales at the base. No ex- 

 ceptions were found among a dozen or more specimens of each species examined. 



Apparently a rather rare species, recorded from Brazil, Cuba, Florida, the 

 Bahamas, and Bermuda. S. F. H. 



Gerres cinereus (Walbaum). Mojarra blanca 



Mugil cinereus Walbaum, Artedi pise, pt. 3, 1792, p. 228 — Bahamas (after Catesby). 

 Gerres aprion Cuvier, Regne animal, 2d ed., vol. 2, 1829, p. 188 (based on Catesby). 

 Gerres zebra Miiller and Troschel, in Schomburgk, Hist. Barbados, 1848, p. 668 — Barbados. 

 Gerres squamipinnis Giinther, Cat. fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 1, 1859, p. 349 — Jamaica; Guate- 

 mala. 



This fish haunts sandy beaches, and may frequently be seen resting a few 

 inches above the bottom. 



From the stomach of one fish were obtained the remains of a large worm, and 

 much sand and debris. 



Except for the dusky or dark-tipped caudal and the yellow ventrals, the color 

 pattern of this species presents, on a countershaded body, a combination of tones 

 of gray such as appear on the bottoms it frequents. It is faintly or irregularly 

 banded, more distinctly in young than in older fish. 



Both coasts of tropical America, ranging northward on the Atlantic to Florida. 



W. H. L. 



