. FAMILY MUGILIDA — MUGIL. 145 
numerous minute acute bristly recurved teeth, loosely inserted in the gums. Lower jaw 
slightly pointed, with an elevated ridge over the symphisis, which is received into a cor- 
responding cavity in the upper jaw. A transverse membranous fold on the upper jaw. 
Palatines with asperities infront. Tongue free, triangular, ridged in the middle. 
The anterior dorsal fin commences at the distance of 3°1 from the end of the snout, and 
is placed in a slight depression, with an elongated scale on each side of the base; it contains 
four spinous rays, of which the first is longest, the last slender and delicate. The second 
dorsal fin larger, subquadrate, and excavated on the posterior part of its margin ; composed 
of eight branched rays, the last longer than the three preceding. Ventral fins with axillary 
plates, and with a robust spinous ray equaling in length the last branched ray ; these fins are 
placed under a point equidistant between the base of the pectorals and the first dorsal. Pec- 
toral fins with sixteen articulated rays ; the first simple, the remainder branched. Anal fin 
beneath the second dorsal, with three spinous and eight branched rays; the first spinous ray 
very short; the first and second branched rays longest, the sixth shortest, the fifth and eighth 
subequal. Caudal fin deeply emarginate. 
Color. Purplish brown above ; lighter on the sides, with ten to twelve dark brown longi- 
tudinal stripes on the sides of the body; these disappear soon after death. Head with 
greenish metallic reflections ; sides of the head yellowish. Pupils black; irides yellowish 
or soiled white. A dark bluish or purplish spot at the base of the pectoral fins. Abdomen 
pearl-grey. 
Length, 7°5. 
Hinirays,, 4.8; Pe losVeie ow A. o.86. 124. 
This Mullet was first detected on our coast by Dr. Mitchill, who sent a specimen, with the 
name and a description, many years ago. ‘They appear in our markets in the beginning of 
September, and are highly esteemed. he fishermen believe them to be identical with the 
preceding. I have seen specimens three inches long, which I suppose to be the young of this 
species. In these the dorsal outline is nearly straight, and the abdomen cultrate. This pro- 
duces such a strongly marked variation from the original form, that if considered by itself, it 
might readily be taken for an undescribed species. 
Its geographic limits are unknown. It is probably common along our whole southern coast, 
and New-York is probably its farthest northern range. 
Fauna — Parr 4. 19 
