FISHES PERCIDAE BRYTTUS HUMILIS. 21 



* 



3. BRYTTUS HUMILIS, G r d . 

 PLATE VII, FIGS. 924. 



SPEC. CHAR. Body sub-elliptical. Nape convex, and snout sub-conical. Posterior extremity of maxillary extending 

 beyond the anterior rim of tbe orbit. Insertion of the ventrals situated posteriorly to the base of pectorals, and a little in 

 advance of the origin of the dorsal, their tips overlapping the vent. Scales large. Eeddish brown or dusky, maculated. 

 Fins unicolor ; dorsal sometimes blotched. 



STN. Bryttus humilis, GRD. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. November, 1857. 



This species has a greater affinity with B, albulus than with B. signifer. The spinous portion 

 of the dorsal resembles more, it is true, that of B. signifer, but the structure of the head and the 

 size of the scales remind us of the same traits in B. albulus. 



The snout being sub-conical and rather pointed, the mouth has room for a wider gape than in 

 the case of a truncated or rounded head. The maxillary teeth are quite apparent, though 

 exiguous. The posterior extremity of the maxillary bone extends to a vertical line drawn 

 inwardly of the anterior rim of the orbit. The eye is sub-circular and proportionally larger 

 than in B. signifer ; its diameter enters four times in the length of the side of the head. The 

 latter constitutes the third of the total length, the caudal fin excluded. The preopercle and 

 suborbital bones exhibit a very cavernous structure, a feature rather uncommon in the Ichthyic 

 group now under consideration. The opercular flap has a tendency towards assuming a 

 greater development than in either of the species of Bryttus we are, so far, acquainted with. 



The dorsal fin is higher upon its spinous portion than in B. signifer. The ventrals are of but 

 moderate development, although their extremities overlap the vent, without, however, reaching 

 the anal fin. On the other hand, the pectorals are slender and elongated, extending posteriorly 

 beyond a vertical line intersecting the origin of the anal fin. The ventrals themselves are in 

 serted a little in advance of the origin of the dorsal. 



Br. V: V; D X or XI, 10; A III, 9 ; C 3, 1, 8, 7, 1, 2 ; V I, 5 ; P 12. 



The enlarged figures of the scales speak for themselves ; wherever the pectinations of their 

 posterior margin are missing, it is owing to their exiguity or else their deciduous character. 

 Their anterior margin is rather abruptly truncated. 



The color is reddish brown or dusky, mostentimes maculated, or rather spotted with black, 

 especially upon the posterior half of the body (fig. 13). The fins are unicolor. Fig. 21 ought 

 to exhibit a dorsal spot, which may be seen upon the specimen. 



References to the figures. Plate VII, fig. 9, represents size of life, Bryttus humilis, caught 

 near Rock Mary. Fig. 10, a dorsal scale. Fig. 11, a scale from the lateral line. Fig. 12, 

 a scale from the abdominal region. 



Fig. 13 represents a specimen, size of life, from Sugar Loaf creek, Arkansas. Fig. 14 is a 

 dorsal scale of the same. Fig. 15, a scale from the lateral line. Fig. 16, a scale from the 

 abdominal region. 



Figs. 17 and 21, immature specimens, size of life, from Sugar Loaf creek also. Figs. 18 

 and 22, scales from the dorsal region. Figs. 19 and 23, scales from the lateral line. Figs. 

 20 and 24, scales from the abdominal region. 



