FISHES. 179 



bution in tropical and ttMinicrate waturs, but the species ascend only a short distance 

 Tip the Pacitic coast of Xorth America, and are wanting in the northern Californian 

 waters and further northward. They are fishes that especially affect the brackish 

 waters, and although they belong to the category of sea-fishes, a few, especially in 

 tropical regions, are permanent residents of fresh water. Mullet is the name by which 

 the species are known to almost all of the English-speaking races, but they must not 

 be confounded with the celebrated mullet of the ancient Romans — the type of the 

 family Mullidae — for they belong to a different sub-order. A number of local mod- 

 ifications or pi-efixes to the name also occur: for example, the species along the 

 American co.ast at Cape Ilattcras are called jumping mullet and sand nmllet, and in 

 southeastern Florida, silver mullet and big-eyed mullet ; specific forms or conditions are 

 known as 'fat back' in Xorthainpton county, Virginia, and in Flori<la; in Connecticut 

 small ones are known as the bluefish-mummiehog, a name due to an imagined simi- 

 larity to the FicnduU or true mummichogs. Seventy or eighty species represent the 

 family in various parts of the world, and they are divided into eight or nine genera. 

 The typical genus Mugil contains far more than all the others combined, and is the only 

 one repi-esented in the European and in jVmerican waters north of South Carolina. All 

 the family have nearly the same external appearance ; the form is elongated, with the 

 back and Aentral outline nearly jiarallel for the middle third of the length, and the 

 head flattened and covered with large scales (as is also the entire body) ; the mouth 

 is o-enerally small and little extended backwards the teeth, when developed, as a 

 rule, are very small. Two dorsal fins are present the first has always four spines, the 

 first two of which diverge from the same base ; the second fin is oblong, and some 

 distance behind the first ; the anal is like and opposite the second dorsal ; the ventral 

 fins arise a short distance behind the pectorals ; and the caudal fin is stout, more or less 

 emarginate, and has roundish lobes. Tlie species associate together in large schools, 

 and periodically appear in the warmer season on the coast which they inhabit ; in the 

 north, at least, they are supposed to retire to deeper water in the winter. Small mul- 

 let, however, are abundant all the year round along the southern United States coast, 

 and isolated individuals are not infrequently taken. 



Two species of Mugil occur on the Atlantic coast of the United States north of 

 Florida, the Miujil albula (identified by Jordan and Gilbert with the 31. cephalns of 

 Europe) and the Muyil curema (better known as the M. limsiliensis) ; both range 

 northward to Cape Cod, Init the former is the most abundant in the north, and in the 

 south is one of the most important, according to some, the most important food fish 

 of the region. The Jl. albula has almost naked second dorsal and anal fins, and lon- 

 gitudinal stripes on the body ; the M. curema has scaly second dorsal and anal fins, 

 and there are no distinct lines of color along the sides. Other species advance on the 

 Florida coast. Besides, a very small mullet of a peculiar generic type ( Querimana 

 gyrans) may be found from Florida to Charleston ; it might easily be taken for the 

 young of the large nmllet, but is distinguished by the distinct teeth and the develop- 

 ment of only two anal spines. 



According to Goode, the large mullets begin to assemble .along the Florida coast 

 in schools in the height of summer, jirobably preparatory to spawning, and at this time 

 the eggs commence to mature. In this season they swim at tlie surface, and are then 

 pursued by enemies ir) the water and the air, and also fall an easy ])rey to the fisher- 

 men. They appear to prefer to swim against the wind, and school best with a north- 

 east' wind. They also run against the tide. In Florida the si)awning season seems to 



