S82 PBOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Dr. Gimther, who correctly describes them imder the names Mugil Jine- 

 ittiis aud Mugil hrasiliensls. The uomeuclature of both is uncertain. 

 The oklest specific name, Mugil albula L., is apparently not available, as 

 its description applies equally to either, and is in some respects incorrect. 

 It is, however, ijerhaps as applicable to ilZ". hrasiliensis as that of Trigia 

 evolans is to our striped Prionotiis. The following is Linnieus's descrip- 

 tion : 



"Mugil Albula. M. pinna dorsali auteriore quacliiradiata. D. 4, 9. P. 17. V. ^. 

 A.-^i. C. 20, XXX. Habitat in America. D. Garden. Simillimus ilf. cf/>/ia?o." — (Syst. 

 Nat. xii, i, .520, 176G). 



The diagnostic characters and the apparent synonymy of the two 

 species are the following : 



« 



Mugil brasiliensis Agassiz. 



White Mullet. 

 ?Catosby, ii,pl. 5. 

 ? Curewa Macgr. 181, Pison 70. 



fMngil alhitlu Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. xii, i, 520, 1766. 

 Mugil hrasiliensis Agassiz, Spix, Pise. Bras. 234, tab. 72 {fide Giinther). — Giiuther, Cat. 



Fishes Brit. Mus. iii, 431. 

 ? Mugil incilis, Hancock, Lond. Quart. Jouru. Sc. 1830, 127 {fide Giiutber). 

 Mugil cureyna Cuv. et Val. xi, 87, and of authors. 

 Mugil petrosus Cuv. et Val. xi, 89, and of authors. 

 Mugil Uneaius Storer, Hist. Fishes Mass. 89, pi. 16, f. 4 (good). 



Body somewhat compressed: angle mide by the dentary bones about a right angle: 

 space at the chin between the dentary bones somewhat club-shaped : scales larger, 

 running up on the soft dorsal and anal fins: coloration bluish above, the sides silver}- 

 without conspicuous dark stripes, but with shining streaks, produced by the striatiou 

 of the scales : a dusky blotch at base of pectorals : tijis of caudal and soft dorsal 

 blaickish. Anal rays III, 9. Scales 38 — 12. Size less than the next. 



Mugil plumieri Bloch. 

 Striped Mullet, 



Mugil jtlumieri Bloch, t. 298, aud of authors. 



Mugil lincatus Mitchill, Cuv. et Val. xi, 96, and of nearly all authors. 

 Mugil albula DeKay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 146. 



Mugil berlandieri Girard, U. S. Mex. Bound. Ichth. p. 20, pi. x. fig. 1 (not fig. 4, which 

 represents the young of M. brasiliensis). 

 Body little compressed: angle of mandible obtuse: space between dentary bones 

 broad and short, rounded anteriorly: scales smaller, not running vip on the dorsal aud 

 anal fins. Coloration dark bluish above ; sides silvery, with series of darker spots, 

 one on each scale, forming conspicuous lateral stripes: a dusky spot at base of pecto- 

 rals. Anal rays III, 8. Scales 42 — 13. The common "Mullet," so extensively split and 

 salted as a food-fish. 



The two species seem to occur on the same shores, and both range 

 from Massachusetts to South Carolina at least. 



