558 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY IV. 



ical; molars in two rows above. Cheeks short and deep with 4 rows 

 of scales. A i^rocumbent spine in front of the dorsal. Third dorsal 

 spine elevated, often somewhat filamentons. Pectorals moderate, reach- 

 ing front of anal, ventrals a little inrther ; second anal spine a little the 

 longest. Head 31 5 depth 2. D. XII, 12; A. Ill, 11. Scales 8-49-16; 

 L. 12 inches. Cape Cod to Florida ; abundant ; a valuable food-fish. 



(Spai-us argyrops L. Syst. Nat. : Pagrus argyrops Cuv. & Val. vi, 164: Pagrus argyr- 

 ops Holbrook, Ich. S. Car. 174: Pagrus argyrops Giiuther, i, 472: Sargus anibassis Giin- 

 tlier, i, 449: Stenotomus argyrops Gill, and of most late Americau writers.) 



aa. Incisor teeth broad. 



1). Incisor teeth emarginate ; procumbent dorsal spine present. (Lagodon * Hol- 

 brook.) 



§§2. D. rhoint>oic1es (L.) J. & G.—Pin-Jish; Bream. 



Brownish, white below ; sides of head and body with horizontal strijies 

 of light blue and golden ; G or 7 very faint darker vertical bands, 

 disapj)earing with age ; vertical fins yellowish, with bluish stripes ; a 

 dark axillary spot. Bodj ovate, elliptical, compressed, and somewhat 

 elevated, the axis of the body near the middle of its depth ; snout about 

 in the axis. Head rather sharp. Mouth small, the upj)er jaw more 

 freely protractile than usual. Molars in two series ; anterior incisors 

 each deeply notched. Cheeks with 5 or G rows of scales ; scales on 

 breast little reduced in size. A procumbent spine before the dorsal fin ; 

 dorsal spines high, much higher than the soft rays, the fourth highest; 

 second anal spine little larger or longer than the third ; pectorals as 

 long as head ; ventrals moderate. Head 3^ ; depth 2^, D. XII, 11 ; 

 A. Ill, 11 ; scales 8-66-18. L. 1- inches. New Jersey to Texas; abun- 

 dant southward. 



(Spams rhomboides Linn. Syst. Nat.: Sargus rliomhoides Cuv. & Val. vi, 68: Sargus 

 rhomhoidcs Giintber, i, 447: Lagodon rliomhoides Holbrook, Ich. S. Car. 18()0, 59.) 



aa. Incisors entire in the adult; emarginate or serrate in the young. 

 h. A procumbent spine before the dorsal fin. {Arcl\osargus\ Gill.) 



883. I>. |>rot>ntoeephalus (Walb.) J. & G. — Sheepshead. 



Grayish, with about 8 vertical black bands, which are about as 

 broad as the interspaces; dorsal dusky; ventral and anal black; 

 base of pectoral dusky. Body robust, becoming very deep with age, 

 the back compressed and elevated; axis of the body below the middle 

 of the depth; snout entirely below axis of body; profile very steep; 



* Holbrook, Ich. S. Car. ed. i, 56, 1859: type Sj>arus rhomioides Li, (Aayoo?, hare; 

 coSoov, tooth.) 



tGill, Canadian Naturalist, August, 1865: type Sparus prohatocephalus Walb. 

 {dpxov, ruler; 6dpyoi, Sargus, from its preeminence in size and value.) 



