SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE OF FISHES. 



361 



behind; pectorals in male .4 to .5 length of body, in female .33. Color: Male — above light 

 greenish brown, with 4 dark blotches on back; sides spotted with reddish brown; opercle 

 reddish brown, branchiostegal membrane black; dorsal fins greenish brown, a black spot on 

 membrane between fourth and fifth spines, both fins with translucent streaks; anal dark, the 

 bass and edge white; caudal reddish, with narrow white longitudinal streaks; pectorals dark 

 brown, with irregular light brown and green markings; free rays of pectorals and ventrals 

 orange-tinged. Female — above dark green, back and sides thickly spotted with bronze; 

 brancliiostegal membranes pink; spinous dorsal dusky with light streaks, a black ocellated 

 spot between fourth and fifth spines, a similar spot on upper part of first spine and membrane; 

 second dorsal and caudal spotted with black; anal black; ventrals pale, {scitulus, slender.) 



This small species, although reported as tolerably abundant at Beaufort by 

 Yarrow, was represented by only 2 specimens in the collections of Jordan and 

 Jenkins. Recently it has been found in great abundance in the Beaufort region 

 in summer. Upwards of a dozen fish examined by Professor Linton in August 

 (1901 and 1902) contained fish, crustaceans, and bivalve and univalve mollusks. 

 The species attains a length of only 6 inches, and is the smallest of the local sea- 

 robins. Jordan & Gilbert record the local vernacular name of " slim flying-toad " 

 in allusion to its very slender form. 



312. PRIONOTUS CAROLINUS (Linnaeus). 

 "Flying-fish"; "Flying-toad"; Sea-robin. 



Trigla Carolina Linnaeus, Mantissa Plantarum, ii, 528, 1771; Carolina. 



Prionolus carolinns, Yarrow, 1877, 207; Beaufort. Jordan & Evermann, 1898, 2153, pi. cccxviii, fig. 768; 

 Maine to South Carolina. 



Fig. 164. Carolina Sea-robin. Prionotus carolinus. 



Diagnosis. — Form slender, but much less so than in Prionotus scitulus, the depth less than 

 .2 total length; depth of caudal peduncle equal to eye; bones of head comparatively smooth, 

 the spines low; head contained 3 times in total length; mouth small, maxUlary less than .33 

 length of head; snout .5 head; eye rather large, .4 snout; gill- rakers of moderate length, about 

 10 on lower arm of first arch; pores in lateral line about 58; dorsal rays x+ 13, the spines low, 

 the longest (third) not .5 length of head; anal rays 12; caudal slightly forked; pectorals short, 

 rounded, not as much as .5 length of body. Color: brownish above, with dark mottlings and 

 about 4 obscure dark crossbars; white below; throat and branchiostegal membranes blackish; 

 a black ocellus between fourth and fifth dorsal spines, and several pale streaks below the spot; 

 whitish oblique streaks on second dorsal; pectorals reddish brown. 



