100 



2— L. obliquus. 



Croaker, or Spot. 



Similar in shape to the preceding, hut much more arched 

 above, and nearly straight below. The head is large, com- 

 pressed at the sides, full, rounded above and in front, and 

 covered with scales. There are two dorsal fins, th«ugh con- 

 nected by a membrane slightly elevated. Body above lightest 

 silver-gray, with a goldea tint: fourteen or more dusky bars 

 descend obliquely on the sides from the margin of the back, 

 and disappear below the lateral line a roundisli spot above 

 the ])ectoral tins; sides and belly yelloAvish. Tjength, 6 to 

 S inches. 



Fin-rays:— D. 10. 1. 30; P. 18; Y. 1, 5; A. 2, ]-2; C. 18. 



Mugil obliquus, Mitch, Trans. Lit. & Phil, Soc. New York, 

 I p, 405. 



Scicena muUifasciata, Lesueur, Mem. Aca. Nat. 8c. Philad. 

 Up. 225. 



Leiosiomus Juoneralis, Cuv, & Yal. I p. lit, })1. 110. 



— ohlujni'.S', DeKay, New York Fauna, Fish., p. GO, pi. (JO, 

 iig. 195; Holbr. Ichth. S. Car. p. 160, pi. 2?> fig. 1. 



Scicena ohliqua, Guenther, II p. 288. 



The Croaker or Spot is common in mauy of the brackish 

 and salt waters of the estuaries of ChesajDeake Bay. In the 

 vicinity of Norfolk and on the southern part of the Eastern 

 Shore it is esteemed as the choicest of the indigenous fish. 

 Near Baltimore, in the Patapsco River, it lives in holes, and 

 ieeds on the small Crustacea which abound there. 



AcAP. Coll. S. I. 



SCI^NOPS, GiU. 



S. ocellatus. 



Sea-Bass, or The Banded Corvina, or Beard- 

 less Drum. 



Elongated, nearly round, slightly arched above, straight 

 below, thicker along the back, and thinner at the belly. — 

 Head large, flattened above; snout rounded, full, with a de- 

 pendent fold of skin, partially divided into four lobes. Sil- 

 very white, with a bluish tint along the back, and an oval 

 black spot (sometimes with two spots) bordered with white, 

 near the upper margin of the base of the caudal fin. Attains 

 a length of 4 feet. 



