PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 267 



thin and smooth, their ed^es entire, as iu 71/. notata, from which closely 

 allied species it differs mainly iu the shorter anal. Vertical fins scale- 

 less. Length 4 inches. 



46. Menidia vagrans (Goode & Bean) J. & G. G. (30893.) 



Very abundant about Galveston, in schools along the sandy beaches ; 

 originally described from Pensacola, but not obtained there by us. 



Color in life, light greenish above, the lateral band broad, covering 

 two half- rows of scales, becoming narrow posteriorly; sides and belly 

 silvery. Tip of snout and of lower jaw yellow, soiled with blackish. 

 Each scale of back with oue to three dark i^oiuts, these forming about 

 5 cousi)icnous streaks as seen from above; caudal yellow, with dark 

 punctulations, its margin dusky ; dorsal and pectorals somewhat dusky, 

 lower fins white, the anal with dark i)oints at base. 



Head 4f in length (5i with caudal) ; depth 5^ (Gi). D. IV-I, 8; A. 

 I, 15 to I, 17. Scales 43-6. 



First dorsal very small, its insertion over front of anal, midway be- 

 tween base of caudal and posterior angle of opercle ; distance from its 

 front to front of second dorsal f head. Pectorals slightly shorter than 

 head. Vertical fins with large scales. 



Scales firm, adherent, their edges crenate or laciniate, feeling very 

 rough to the touch. Scales of head large. Length 4 inches. 



This species appears to represent in the Gulf the allied Menidia hosci 

 [Atherinia menidia L.) of the South Atlantic coasts. M. vagrans differs 

 from the latter chiefly in the shorter anal (A. I, 20 to 1, 22 in M. bosci.). 



ECHENEIDID^. 



47. Echeneis naucrates L. P. 



One specimen 25 inches long and another 8 inches long were taken 

 at Pensacola. The larger example shows the following characters : Color 

 nearly uniform dusky, the black lateral band little marked, the tips of 

 dorsal and caudal lobes little paler than the rest of the fin. D. XXII- 

 34 ; A. 35. Caudal lunate, the lobes pointed. 



The small specimen has but 20 laminae ; the lobes of the dorsal and 

 anal are yellowish white, as are the upper and lower rays of the caudal; 

 the median (black) rays of the caudal being abruptly produced. 



TRICIIIUIIID^. 



48. Trichiurus lepturus L.— Sfl5re-/is/i ; Silver Eel. G. (30983.) 

 Rather common about Galveston. 



SCOMBRID^. 



49. Scomber ?grex Mitcliill. P. (30825.) 



The anterior half of the body of a small mackerel was obtained at 

 Pensacola, the posterior part having been cut off for bait. This speci- 



