266 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Each alternate plate on the neck, armed on each of the dorsal ridges, 

 with a long slender spine, which is as long as the eye, and scarcely- 

 tapering toward the tip; each provided with a filament about as long 

 as the spine; upper lateral ridges of each plate similarly armed, the 

 spines shorter; lower lateral and ventral ridge on two plates, likewise 

 armed. Each fourth j^late on the tail similarly armed with a long, 

 slender spine on its upper and lower ridges. A strong spine in front of 

 pectoral, and one below it. About fifty well-developed spinous pro- 

 cesses on the body, besides numerous smaller spinous points. Base 

 of dorsal elevated, the fin covering about 4 body rings, its number of 

 rays IG. Rings about 12 + 31. 



Color brownish, crossed at intervals by darker bars, which have a 

 grayish center. These bars cross the plates which have the largest 

 spines. Suout blackish, with two or three oblique whitish streaks, one 

 of them forming a ring. 



Two other specimens of this species, taken in gulf-weed oft" the east 

 coast of Florida, by Prof. J. H. Corastock, are in the museum of Cor- 

 nell University. 



Another specimen of Hippocamims^ in bad condition, was' taken from 

 the stomach of a Red Snapper. 



Snout rather longer than postorbital part of head; coronet and 

 supraorbital spines high ; spines on body and tail large and sharp. Dor- 

 salrays aitparentlj" 16. Whether this specimen belongs to H. stylifer 

 or not, we are unable to say. 



MUGILID.^. 



44. Mugil albula U— Mullet, Molly, Meuille. G. (30912, 30915, 30923, 31039,31050.) 



Mui/il bcrlandieri Girard, U. S. Mex. Bound. Snrv. Ichth. 20. 

 Miigil mexivaiins Steiudachner, Ichtbyol. Beitriige, iil, 58, 1875. 



Excessively abundant, particularly about Galveston, where they are 

 found even in the gutters along the streets. Held in low esteem as 

 a food-fish, and largely used for bait. 



We do not believe that the mullet of Southern California and the west 

 coast of Mexico, Mufjil mexicaniis Steind. can be distinguished as a species 

 from the Atlantic fish. Both Miiffil albula and M. hrasilioisis appear to 

 be equally abundant on both coasts, and their range on both sides is 

 similar, M. albula reaching to Cape Cod, and Monterey M. brasiliensis 

 to Virginia and Lower California. 



ATHERINID^. 



45. Menidia peninsulae (Goode & Beau) J. & G. P. (30918.) 



Very abundant about Pensacola, in schools along the sandy beaches. 



Light green; edges of scales with dark dots; lips and top of head 

 dusky; a dusky streak along base of anal; eye silvery; lateral streak 

 narrow, tapering ))ehiud; bases of pectoral and caudal bright yellow ; 

 fins otherwise nearly x)lain ; D. IV-I, 8 ; A. I, 16. Scales 40-9. Scales 



