SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE OF FISHES. 117 



Genus ALBULA Scopoli. Lady-fishes. 



The generic characters ai-e shown under the family. The young undergo a 

 peculiar metamorphosis; at first they are long, flat, ribbon-shaped, transparent, 

 small-headed creatures, with little resemblance to the adult form; they then 

 diminish in length, become stouter, and take on the shape of the adult. {Albula, 

 whiting.) 



103. ALBULA VULPES (Linnaeus). 



Lady-fish; Bone-fish; Wolf-fish. 



Esox vulpes lannaeus, Systema Naturae, ed. x, 313, 1758; Bahamas. 

 Albula conorhynchus. Yarrow, 1877, 215; Beaufort. 



Albula vulpes, Jordan & Gilbert, 1879, 384; Beaufort (after Yarrow). Jordan & Evermann, 1896, 411, pi. Ixviii, 

 fig. 179. 



Diagnosis. — Depth .20 to .25 total length; head contained 3.75 times in length; eye .20 

 length of head, almost covered with a circular adipose lid; mouth small, horizontal, overhung by 

 pig-like snout; branchiostegals about 14; preopercle with a broad membranous flap extending 

 backward over base of opercle; scales in lateral series 71, in transverse series 16 (9 above lateral 

 line), a band of long membranous scales on middle of back, a large scale in axil of ventrals; 

 dorsal fin in front of ventrals, of 15 scaly rays; anal fin small, with 8 rays; caudal fin deeply 

 forked, the upper lobe longer; pectorals and ventrals short. Color: brilliant silvery; greenish 

 on back; faint streaks along back and sides; fins plain, {vulpes, fox.) 



This species is found on the United States coasts as far north as southern 

 California and Massachusetts. On the North Carolina coast it is only a straggler. 

 Yarrow reported it at Beaufort on the authority of fishermen, but recent writers 

 have not recorded it from the state. It attains a length of 3 feet, and has some 

 value as food. 



Family HIODONTID^. The Moon-eyes. 



Handsome American fresh-water fishes, with oblong, compressed body cov- 

 ered with silvery cycloid scales; head short, scaleless; mouth moderate, terminal, 

 with small teeth on jaws, tongue, vomer, palatines, sphenoid, and pyterygoids; 

 maxillary small, slender, forming lateral margin of jaw; jaws equal, lower jaw 

 fitting within upper at sides; eye large, with adipose eyelid; nostrils large, 2 

 on each side separated by a flap; gill-membranes not united, and free from isth- 

 mus; branchiostegals 8 to 10; pseudobranchise rudimentary; gill-rakers few, 

 short; air-bladder large; one pyloric coecum; lateral line straight; dorsal fin short, 

 posterior; anal long and low; caudal strongly forked. One genus. 



Genus HIODON LeSueur. Moon-eyes, or Toothed Herrings. 



There are 3 species of this genus, inhabiting the Great Lakes, Mississippi 

 basin, and Canada. They are dazzling silvery in color, and are excellent game 

 fishes, but are of little value as food, being dry and bony. Only one species is 

 found within the limits of the State. {Hiodon, toothed hyoid.) 



