202 Field Columbian Museum — Zoology, Vol. V. 



torals 1 1 in head; ventrals produced in a short filament, i^in head; 

 second anal spine very strong, 1% in head, its tip reaching opposite 

 base of caudal; caudal fin emarginate; least depth of caudal peduncle 

 3 in head; scales on base of caudal fin, a few on base of anal, but none 

 on dorsal; head, except a portion anterior to nostrils, scaly; scales 

 strongly ctenoid. 



Color light brownish, silvery, lighter below; body with a few faint 

 longitudinal bands; opercle with an indistinct black blotch; tips of 

 vertical fins dark. Length about 12 inches. 



The longest specimen in the collection of the Museum is 6 inches. 

 This species was taken by me at Valles and Perez. Named for Mr. 

 A. V. Temple, who has played an important part in the industrial and 

 commercial development of Mexico. 



Family XX. Seiseiiidse. 



The Croakers. 



Body more or less elongate, compressed; scales rather thin, ctenoid; 

 head prominent and covered with scales ; bones of the skull cavernous ; 

 mouth small or large; teeth conical, in one or more series, those of the 

 outer one being sometimes enlarged ; maxillary slipping under the free 

 edge of the preorbital; no teeth on tongue, vomer, or palatines; pre- 

 maxillaries protractile; nostrils double; gill membranes separate, free 

 from the isthmus; lower pharyngeals broad, with enlarged conical or 

 molar teeth ; opercle usually ending in two flat points ; spinous portion 

 of dorsal fin smaller than the soft portion ; anal fin with 1 or 2 spines ; 

 ventral fins thoracic, 1 spine and 5 soft rays. 



A large family of fishes mostly inhabiting the sandy shores of all 

 seas, a few species living in fresh water; most of the species reach a 

 large size. 



Subfamily Haploidonotinse. 



SO. Haploidonotus Rafinesque. 



River Drums. 



Aplodinotus Rafinesque, Jour, de Phys., 1S19, 418. (Type, 

 Aplodinotus grunniens Rafinesque.) 



Body oblong, the back elevated and compressed; mouth rather 

 small, low, horizontal, the lower jaw included; snout blunt; teeth in 

 villiform bands, the outer above scarcely enlarged; no barbels; gill 

 rakers short and blunt; lower pharyngeals very large, united, and 

 with coarse, blunt paved teeth; second anal spine very strong; pyloric 

 ccecse 7 ; vertebrae 10 + 14 = 2 4- 



