Jordan and Evermann. — Fishes of North America. 411 



along top of head. Vertebr;c numerous, 42 + 28 = 70. A single species 

 known, found in all warm seas. In this, and probably in related families, 

 the young pass through a metamorphosis, analogous to that seen in the 

 Conger Eels. They are for a time elongate, baud-shaped, with very small 

 head and loose transparent tissues. From this condition they become 

 gradually shorter and more compact, shrinking from 3 or Z\ inches in 

 length to 2 inches. According to Dr. Gilbert, this process, like that seen 

 in various eels, is a normal one, through which all individuals pass. In 

 the Gulf of California, where these fishes abound, these band-shaped 

 young are often thrown by the waves on the beach in great masses. 

 {Cliq)ei(l<i; group Alhxlina, Giinther, Cat., vil, 468, 469, 1868.) 



199. ALBULA ((ironow) Bloch & Schneider. 

 (Lady-fishes.) 



Conorhynms, Nozeman, Act. Select, in, 382, 1757, (nonbinomial). 



Alhula, GnoNOW, Zoiiphyl., 102, 1763, (nonbinomial). » 



AlhnUi, Bloch k Schneider, Syst. Ichtli., 4:52, 1801, {conothijncKs = vulpes). 



liiilyrinus, LAcf;PEDE, Hist. Nat. Poiss., v, 45, 1803, (hanim(i = tul}>es). 



Gloissoihts, CuviEK, in Agassiz, Spix, Pise. Bras., 48, 1829, {forsWi = vulpes). 



Characters of the genus included above. (Latin albiis, white.) 



672. ALBULA TULPES (Linnaeus). 

 (Laby-fish; Biine-fish; Macabi; Sanducha; Banana-fish.) 

 Head 31; depth 4. D. 15; A. 8; scales 9-71-7. Upper lobe of caudal 

 the longer. A broad band of peculiar, elongate, membranaceous scales 

 along middle line of back; accessory ventral scale large. Brilliantly 

 silvery ; olivaceous above ; back and sides with faint streaks along the 

 rows of scales ; fins plain; axils dusky. Length 18 inches to 3 feet. 

 Tropical seas, on sandy coasts, almost universally distributed and gen 

 erally abundant, ranging northward on our coasts to San Diego and Long 

 Island. A beautiful and active fish, in most places little valued as food, 

 but in some regions, as Key West, highly appreciated, (vnlpes, fox.) 



Vnbarana, Marcgrave, Hist. Bras., 1G4S, Brazil. 



Vulpes hahnmeusis, [the Bone-fish], Catesby, Nat. Hist. Oarolinas, etc., pi. il, fig. 1, 1737, 



Bahamas. 

 Esox vulpes, LiNNiEus, Syst. Nat., Ed. x, 1758, 313, Bahamas; based on the Bone-fish, Vulpes 



hahmnensis, of Catesby. 

 Argentina glossodonta, Forskal, Doscr. Anim., OS, 1775,Djidda, Arabia. 



Macabi, Parea, Dif. Piezas Cuba, 88, pi. 35, fig. 1, 1787, Cuba; based on Viibarnnn of Marcgrave. 

 Synodus arijentens, Bloch & Schneider, Syst. IcUth., 398, ISOl, Asia. 

 Clupea brasilie)isis, Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Ichth., 427, 1801, Brazil. 

 Albula cononjnchus, Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Ichth., 432, 1801, Antilles; after Gronow and 



Plumier; railed Albula plumieri ou plate 86. 

 Amia immaculaln, Bloch & SCHNEIDER, Syst. Ichth., 451, 1801, Central America ; after 



Macabi of PaRRA. 

 Buiyrinus banana, LAci^;PEDE, Hist. Nat. Poiss., v, 46, 1803, lie de France. 

 Clupeamacrocephala, Lacepkde, Hist. Nat. Poiss., v, 426, 1803, Martinique; on a drawing by 



Plumier. 

 Glosmdm forskdli, Agassiz, Spix, Pise. Bras., 49, ISiO, Bahia; ealbd Eunraulis sericus and 



Emitaulli bahieusis on the plate.':, 22 ami 24. 

 Albula parr*, CtiviEk & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., xix, 339, 184G, Martinique; Bahia; 



Rio de Janeiro. 



