582 W. H. LONGLEY 



^^ith colors which are repeated upon other fishes and upon 

 some Crustacea (Portunus ventrahs and Gonodactylus oerstedii) 

 which may be taken in the same sandy region. They do not 

 belong to the grass-flat fauna strictly defined, but are apparently 

 swept up and gathered in from minor barren patches, which 

 may be wholly bare. With perfect fairness both may be dis- 

 regarded in the present connection. Xystaema should be 

 rejected with them. Its colors are much the same as theirs; 

 young specimens are common near shore, and others that are 

 full grown may be seen frequently idling over sandy bottom 

 along the beach during the day. Actaeis is no more justly 

 considered a member of the group we are attempting to define, 

 for it seems to be much more abundant in other places. Of those 

 remaining Sphyraena at least may be seen and has been taken 

 as commonly elsewhere, in the same early stages of develop- 

 ment, with less efficient implements. This revision, every step 

 in which is justifiable, leaves, then, nineteen species, of which 

 elev^ (57.9 per cent) repeat, or are capable of repeating the 

 green color characterizing the environment in which they were 

 secured. 



There is another correction that may be applied. Fishes 

 frequently encountered are, upon the average at least, more 

 justly considered typical members of the local fauna than those 

 that appear in the haul only rarely. Upon this basis, Amia, 

 Scorpaena, Teuthis and Xyricthys may be, or must be denied 

 consideration until more complete records of their distribution 

 are available. It may be that one of these or even more should 

 be retained, but the relative frequency with which green occurs 

 upon the fishes of the grass flats may probably be measured more 

 accurately if all four are dropped, than if all are included in the 

 calculation. 



To prune the list no farther, although such action would not 

 be wholly unreasonable, there remain fifteen species which may 

 be regarded tentatively as characteristic of the locality in which 

 they were taken. Ten (66.6 per cent) of these repeat the dis- 

 tinctive color of their environment. Except among surface 

 fishes green occurs in no such ratio, and if these be excluded in 



