22 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



conuecting forms. Premising, then, that in giving to the Noank speci- 

 mens a subspecific name, my object is simply to define the limits of 

 variation from the normal type in a given direction, I would provis- 

 ionally propose that they be designated as subspecies hrevicaudata. 



The specimens from the Saint John's Eiver, Florida, are extremely 

 variable in every respect. Certain individuals show a tendency to elon- 

 gation of the head and fins, and also a slenderness of the posterior part 

 of the body, and nearly all the individuals from that region are more 

 lightly and gracefully shaped ; they all have a tendency to a yellow 

 coloration, especially upon the caudal lobes. 1 have not felt justified, 

 however, in calling it a subspecies. 



1 have not had an opportunity to study the Maine schools, but am 

 inclined to believe that their differences are very perceptible. 



In plate VI are shown the chief variations of form. Fig. 1 shows the 

 typical form; fig. 2 the subspecies hrevicaudata ; fig. 3 the average form 

 from the Saint John's Eiver, Florida ; fig. 4 the subspecies aurea. 



Table of measurements. 



Current number tf specimen. 

 Locality 



Extreme length 



Body: 



Greatest height 



Least height of tail 



Length of caudal peduncle 



Head: 



Greatest length 



Distance Irom snout to nape 



Greatest width 



Length of snout from perp. from centre of orbit. 



Length of operculum 



Length of maxillary 



Length of mandible 



Distance from snout to center of orbit 



Dorsal : 



Distance from snout 



Length of base 



Origin of pectoral to origin of dorsal 



End of dorsal to end of anal 



Length of longest ray 



Length of last ray 



Anal : 



Distance from snout 



Length of base 



Origin of anal to origin of dorsal 



Length of longest ray 



Length of last ray 



Caudal : 



Length of middle rays 



Length of external rays, superior 



interior 



Pectoral: 



Distance from snont 



Distance of tip from snout 



Length 



Length of longest axillary ajjpendago 



Ventral: 



Distance from snont 



Length 



Origin of ventral to end of dorsal 



Dorsal 



Anal. 



Xumber of scales in lateral line 



10,405=709 

 C. A.S. 



Wood's Holl. 



Millim. lOOths. 



Tery fat. 

 251 



38i 

 9 

 9i 



32 

 20 

 15 

 10 

 9 

 14i 

 17| 

 lOi 



54 

 19 

 41 



25i 



12J 

 G 



73 

 14 



39 

 6i 

 5i 



3 

 23 



26i 



10,405 = orig. 

 No. 247. 



Wood's Holl. 



MilUm. lOOths. 



Plump. 

 243 



20 

 20 

 107 



31 



20J 



10 

 9 

 14J 



n* 



lOJ 



51 



33i 



24 



11 



7 



7-2 

 HJ 

 33 

 5* 



44 

 20i 

 23 



32 

 48 

 17i 



53 

 31 



20,CG6 a. 

 Wood's Holl. 



Millim 



lOOths. 



34 i 



31 



20i 



lOJ 

 9 

 14 

 17 

 lOJ 



49 

 17i 



35i 

 25 

 124 

 GJ 



72 

 154 

 36 

 CI 



54 

 20 

 23 



30 



46 

 18 



