1884.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 311 



ABEVIEW OF THE AMERICAN SPECIES OF STR01IATEID.S:. 

 BY MORTON W. FORDICE. 



In the present paper I have attempted to collect the synonymy 

 of the American species of Stromateidee, and to give an analytical 

 key for the identification of the species. 



The specimens studied belong to the Museum of Indiana 

 University. 



Analysis of American Genera of Stromateidee. 



a. Ventrals very rudimentary or absent ; preopercle entire ; 



anterior rays of dorsal and anal fins more or less produced ; 



scales very small and thin ; caudal peduncle slender, not 



keeled ; gill-membranes free from isthmus ; caudal fin 



forked. Stromateus. I. 



aa. Ventrals present, 1,5; edge of preopercle serrate ; anterior 



rays of dorsal and anal fins not produced ; scales rather 



small, firm ; gill-membranes free from isthmus ; caudal 



peduncle rather stout, not keeled ; caudal fin lunate. 



Leirus. II. 

 I. STROMATEUS. 



Stromateus Linnaeus, 8yet. Nat., x, 248, 1768 (fia'ola ; paru). 



Rhombus Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss., ii, .321, 1800 {alepidotua). 



Chrysostromus Lacepede, Hisr. Nat. Poiss., iv, 97, 1800 {fiatoloides = fiatola). 



Fiatola Risso, Eur. Merid., iii, 289, 1826 (fa-c'iata). 



Feprilus Cuvier, Regne Animal, 1828 (crenulatua). 



Seserinus Cuvi«r & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., ix, 416, pi. 276, 18.53 (micro- 



cktrun). 

 ForonotUS Gill, Cat. Fith. East Coast N. A., 1861, 35 {triacanthuB). 



Analysis of American Species of Stromateus. 



a. Pelvis ending in a small spine ; ventral fins entirely wanting. 

 b. Dorsal and anal fins falcate ; the length of their highest 

 rays greater than that of head ; back elevated ; body 

 suborbicular ; snout vertical ; height of body 1^ in length ; 

 D. Ill, 45 ; A. II, 43 ; vertebra, 13+17 ; occipital crest very 

 high, its vertical height from supraroccipital bone con- 

 tained 3 in head {Rhombus Lac). paru. 1. 

 bb. Dorsal and anal fins little falcate ; the length of their 

 highest rays less than head. 



