.008 KKl'UUT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



XXIII. CALAMUS. 



(Pez de Pluma.) 



Calamus Swainson, Nat. ITist.. Fishes, ii, 1839, 222 (cal<(miis). • 



Grammateus I'oey, Ami. Lye;. N;tt. ]li.st. N. Y., 1872, 182 (micropii). 



Type: Pmjdhts adamnx Cuv. & Yul, 



Etymology: Calamus, a quill or reed, from the quill-like iuterhiemal. 



This genus contains a number of species, all American, all very 

 closely rel:it<Ml, and valued as food-fishes. The best-known species 

 are described in <letail by Jordan & Gilbert, Proc, V. S. aST. ]\1, 1883, j). 

 14 et seq. 



ANALYSIS OF SPKCIKS OK CALAMI'S. 



a. Scak'8 cimiitarativoly small, 8, 9-51 to 58-18, 19; ' alioiit vortical rows of scaloa 

 on liaso of preoperclc, with about 12 scales cuteriiij^' iuto the ior- 

 inatioii of the lower margin; species of larj^-e size, with tho i)ro- 

 orbital deep, the pectoral fiu lonj.'', and the outer teeth strong. 

 b. Body very deep, tho hack elevated, tho depth in adnlt half tho length to haso of 

 caudal; outer teeth about ,., jj in number, the outer one on each 

 side in one or both jaws somi times enlarged, canine-like, some- 

 times directed forwards, especially in the adult, 

 c. Preorbital with reticulations of the bluish ground color around bronze spots; 

 canines of ujiper jaw usually vertical, but sometimes, especially 

 in old exami)les, directed more or less horizontally forwards; 

 body deeper than in other sjiecies, dejith Iv'o to 2J ; anterior pro- 

 tile not very stee]), slightly curved ; depth of preorbital less than 

 half head ; eye large, 31 to 3| iu head; dorsal spines strong, the 

 longest 2^ to 2^ iu head; pectorals a little more than one-lhird 

 body. Color silvery, the l>aso and center of each scale golden, 

 the edge bluish, these ccdors forming distinct streaks; a deep- 

 violet streak below eye, not extending on eye or opercle; pre- 

 orbital dull violet, this color forming reticulations around brassy 

 spots; axil golden, with a violet bar; ventrals more or less 

 dusky. Head, 3J; depth, 2; scales, 8-56-18; D. xii, 12; A. ill, 



10 Calamus, 97. 



cc. Preorbital region, smnit, cheek, and opercles brassy, crossed by horizontal, 

 wavy, non-reticulating lines of violet blue, brightest on prt'or- 

 bital and siuiut; a sky-blue blotch behind eye over tho opercle, 

 extending a short distance onltody; outer canines of ni)per jaw 

 directed horizontally forward, except in the very young, these 

 teeth longer than in C. ('uhnniis; anterior jji-oiilc nearly straight 

 and very steep to the najie, then strongly convex; depth of ])re- 

 orbital a little more than half head; pectoral 3 in body. Color 

 silvery, each scale with a violet spot above and orange spots 

 below; sides Avith dark cros-sbands in life, which disap])ear at 

 death; ventrals chietly yelloAv; axil slightly dusky. Head, 3J; 

 depth, 2; scales, 8-58-18; D. xii, 12; A. in, 10.. .ruoRiOENS, 98. 

 hb. liody mor«^ elongate, tlie depth 2,'; to 2f iu length. 



"Scales above the lateral line are counted from the base of the first d<)rsal spine, 

 those below the lateral line from the base of the first anal spine. 



