382 PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



i)r. Giinther, who correctly describes them under the names Mugil line- 

 atus and Mugil brasiUensis. The nomenclature of both is uncertain. 

 The oldest specific name, Bfugil albula, L., is apparently not available, as 

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

 It is, however, perhaps as applicable to M. brasiUensis as that of Trigla 

 evolans is to our striped Pno«ofif.s. The following is LiirnnMis's descrip- 

 tion : 



"Mugil Albula. M. piuna dorsali auteriore quadriradiata. D. 4, t). V. 17. V. -g. 

 A. V'r- C. 20, XXX. Habitat in America. D. Garden. SimiUimus M. cejyhalo.'' — (Syst. 

 Nat. xii.i, 520, 1766). 



The diagnostic characters and the apparent synonymy of the two 

 species are the following : 



Mugil brasiUensis Agassiz. 



Wliite Mullet. 

 tCat€shy,ii,pl. 5. 

 ? Curenm Macgr. 181, Pisou 70. 

 f Mugil alhula Linn, Syst. Nat. ed. xii, i, 520, 1766. 

 Mu^il hrasiliensis Agassiz, Spix, Pise. Brae. 234, tab. 72 (fide Girnther). — GUnther, Cat. 



Fishes Brit. Mus. iii, 431. 

 ? Mugil incilis, Hancock, Lond. Quart. Journ. Sc. 1830, 127 (fide Giinther). 

 Mu{fil curema Cuv. et Val. xi, 87, and of authors. 

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

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



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

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

 running up on the soft dorsal and anal fins : coloration bluish above, the sides silvery 

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

 of the scales: a dusky blotch at base of pectorals: tips of caudal and soft dois^ 

 •J[)!flcki8h. Anal rnys III, 9. 8<?ale« 38 — 12. Size less than tb« next. 



Mugil plumieri Bloch. 



Striped Mullet 



Mugil phtmivri Blooh, t. 296, and of authors. 



Mugil linoatua Mitchill, Cuv, et VaL xi, 96, and of nearly aU authors. 

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



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

 represents the young of M. braMlienms). 

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

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

 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 i)ecto- 

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



