PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSUEM. 281 



The specimens from the Gulf coast differ from those taken farther 

 north in the almost entire absence of the dark punctulations which are 

 so conspicuous in the latter. They seem to be otherwise identical. 



Color in life silvery, slightly bluish above, the scales of the opercles 

 and middle of sides with some dusky points. Spinous dorsal light yel- 

 lowish, dusky at tip. Second dorsal and caudal uniform dull yellow. 

 Anal bright yellow in front, the color fiiding behind. Yentrals slightly 

 yellowisli, their axils orange. Pectorals yellowish above; axil silvery. 

 Inside of mouth pure white ; an orange area puuctulate with black on 

 inside of opercle. Upper fins all with some punctulations. Head 3^, 

 depth 3jr. D. XI-I, 21; A. If, 9. Scales 7-52-11. 



87. Scaenaocellata (L.) Gtlir.—i?ef?;/is/i ; Po/ssoH ^o«i/e; Fez Colorado. P. G. (30845 

 Peus.; 31914 Gal V.) 



The most important food-fish of tlie Texas coast, the amount taken 

 exceeding that of all other s])ecies comljined. A good food-fish when 

 not too large. It reaches a weight of 35 to 10 pounds, the large speci- 

 mens being known as Bull Ked-fish. 



The serratures on tlie opercle, which are conspicuous in ordinary 

 specimens, wholly disappear with age, the edge of the bone being 

 finally entire and wholly covered by tlie skin. This change takes place 

 gradually, being complete at a length of about 30 inches. 



Color of adults deep brassy yellow above, verging towards orange on 

 the sides ; belly white ; head bronze, darker above ; a band of deeper 

 bronze backward from eye. Young without bronze shades, all of which 

 intensify with age ; scales in the young with darker shades forming 

 undulating streaks ; these obliterated with age ; fins all pale, tinged with 

 reddish, the pectoral most red ; second dorsal and caudal somewhat 

 dusky. Mouth white within, lining of opercle black. Caudal ocella 

 varying much in size, sometimes wanting ; sometimes two or three or 

 even 8 to 10 or more in number. About 19 out of 20 individuals have 

 the normal single ocella on each side. Iris yellowish. 



88. Liostomus xaiithurus Lac— C/(ojm Blanca; Spot; Flat Croaler ; Fost Croaker. 

 P. G. (30S36.) 



Very abundant along the coast. A good pan-fish, but not very im- 

 portant from its small size. The color is rather paler and more silvery 

 than usual in northern specimens, the humeral spot and dark oblique 

 lines less distinctly indicated. Dorsal and caudal light brownish, the 

 tips darker ; soft dorsal yellowish tinge ; anal yellowish, somewhat 

 dotted ; paired fins pale. 



D. X-I, 30; A. II, 12. Scales 9-48-13. Head 3^; depth 3. 



There is no evidence of the existence of two species of Liostomus. 

 Liostomus ohliquus is the species when well preserved. Liostomus xan- 

 thurus C. «& V. is a faded Museum specimen. Liostomus xanthuriis Lac. 

 was so named from a confusion of the coloration of the species with that 

 of the "yellow-tail," Scicena punctata. 



