304 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 
abdominal region silvery. Dorsals and anals tinted with dusky, 
spotted with brownish-dusky on rayed dorsal. On membrane 
between each dorsal spine an oblique dusky line from base of each 
preceding spine to distal end of each succeeding. About 6 vertical 
cross-bars on caudal. Base of anal tinted with dusky. Pectoral 
and ventral tinted with pale greenish. About g pale or indistinct 
brownish saddles along middle of back, and each also reflected , 
more or less on dark lateral band. Wading River at Speedwell, 
April 30th, 1904. Several were taken in the dense sphagnum 
beds and did not appear especially active. 
This little fish is found commonly in the lowlands. 
Boleosoma fusiforme Baird, 9th An. Rep. Smiths. Inst., 1854, 
p. 328. 
Hololepis fusiforme Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 808. 
Pecilichthys fusiforme Abbott, Nat. Rambles, 1885, p. 477. 
Boleichthys fusiforme Bean, Bull. U. S. F. Com., VII, 1887, 
p. 144. 
Hololepis erochrous Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1864, 
p. 233.—Abbott, Am. Nat., IV, 1870, p. 718. 
Pecilichthys cemieus Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 808, evi- 
dently lapses for erochrous. 
Pecilichthys erochrous Cope, 1. ¢., 1883, p. 132.—Abbott, Nat. 
Rambles, 1885, p. 477. 
Microperca punctulata Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 808, evi- 
dently young. 
Family SERRANIDZE. 
The Sea Bass. 
Body oblong, more or less compressed. Caudal peduncle stout. 
Dorsal and ventral outlines usually not perfectly corresponding. 
Mouth moderate, or large, not very oblique. Premaxillaries pro- 
tractile, and broad maxillary usually not slipping for its whole 
length into a sheath formed by preorbital, which is usually nar- 
row. Supplemental maxillary present or absent. Teeth all coni- 
cal or pointed, in bands, present on jaws, vomer and palatines. 
Nostrils double. Preopercle with its margin more or less serrate, 
