THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 321 
peculiar in form and in articulation, without supplemental bone 
and slipping for most of its length under edge of preorbital, 
which forms a more or less distinct sheath. Preorbital usually 
broad. ‘Teeth strong, those in front of jaws conical, incisor-like 
or molar. Lateral teeth of jaws always blunt and molar. No 
teeth on vomer or palatines. Posterior nostril largest, usually 
more or less oblong or slit-like. Preopercle entire or serrate. 
Opercle without spines. Gill-membranes separate, free from isth- 
mus. Gills 4, a large slit behind fourth. Gill-rakers moderate. 
Pseudobranchiz large. Lower pharyngeals separate. Air-ves- 
sel present, usually simple. Pyloric coeca few. Vertebrz usually 
10 + 14 = 24. Intestinal canal short. No suborbital stay. 
Body covered with, rather large adherent scales, never truly 
ctenoid. Sides of head usually scaly. Lateral line well developed, 
concurrent with back, not extending on caudal. Dorsal fin single, 
continuous, or deeply notched, spines usually strong, and depres- 
sible in a groove. Dorsal spines heteracanthous, X to XIII in 
number. Anal rather short, similar to rayed dorsal, with III 
spines. Caudal usually more or less concave. Ventrals I, 5, 
thoracic, and with a more or less distinct scale-like basal append- 
age. 
Carnivorous shore-fishes of the tropical seas, and most valued 
as food. Several species on our coast. 
Key to the genera. 
a. Second interhzmal bone enlarged, hollowed anteriorly or pen-shaped, re- 
ceiving posterior end of air-vessel in its anterior groove. 
STENOTOMUS 
aa. Second interhemal spine normal, not pen-shaped. 
b. Incisors conspicuously notched. LAGODON 
bb. Incisors entire or shallowly notched. ARCHOSARGUS 
Genus STENOTOMUs Gill. 
The Scups. 
Stenotomus chrysops (Linnzus). 
PLATE 58. 
Porgee. Porgy. Big Porgy. Scup. Sand Porgee. 
Head 3%; depth 2%; D1, XII, 12, 1; “AJ II, 11, 1: scales 
50 in lateral line to base of caudal; 8 scales between origin of 
2I MU 
