142 TELEOSTEI: ACANTHOPTERI. XX. 



aa. Vertebrae typically 10 + 14; second anal soine well developed. (Sci- 



cenince.) 



x. Lower pharyngeals separate. 

 y. Lower jaw without barbels. 



c. Teeth well developed, permanent in both jaws; lower pharyngeals 



narrow, with sharp teeth. 



d. Gill rakers slender, rather long ; mouth oblique ; A. inserted rather 

 posteriorly; preorbital narrow; slits and pores of upper jaw little 

 developed; preopercle serrate, its lowest spine enlarged, turned 

 downward; head not very broad, not spongy above. 



BAIRDIELLA, 174. 



dd. Gill rakers rather short and thick; anal further forward; snout 

 with large pores, and 2 to 4 slits on its edge ; preorbital broad ; 

 mouth inferior ............. SCI^ENA, 175. 



cc. Teeth very small, subequal, those in lower jaw lost with age ; lower 

 pharyngeals broad, with paved teeth; gill rakers short, but slender, 

 otherwise as in Sciixna ......... LEIOSTOMUS, 176. 



yy. Lower jaw with one or more barbels (otherwise essentially as in Sci- 

 cena). 



e. Lower jaw with several slender barbels at its rami; preopercle 

 serrate ............. MICROPOGON, 177. 



ee. Lower jaw with one thickish barbel at its tip; no air-bladder; 

 anal spine single; body long and low; preopercle crenulate. 



MENTICIRRHUS, 178. 



xx. Lower pharyngeals very large, completely united, with coarse paved teeth ; 

 snout, etc., as in Scicena. 



f. Lower jaw with numerous barbels along the rami; preopercle 

 nearly entire ........... POGONIAS, 179. 



ff. Lower jaw without barbels ; preopercle obscurely serrate. 



APLODINOTUS, 180. 



173. CYNOSCION Gill. (KUCOI/, dog ; (TKtaiva, scicena.) 



a. Soft dorsal and anal closely scaled. 

 b. Back and sides nearly uniform silvery, without spots. 



387. C. nothus (Holbrook). WHITE WEAK-FISH. Body rather 

 deep ; snout short, bluntish ; eye very large, 4 iu head. Head 3^ ; 

 depth 3|. D. X-1,28. A. II, 9. Scales 6-60-7. L. 12. Va. 

 to Fla. (Lat., spurious.) 



bb. Back and sides with irregular dark spots in undulating streaks. 



388. C. regalis (Bloch & Schneider). WEAK-FISH. SQUE- 

 TEAGUE. Silvery, brownish above, and with bright reflections ; fins 

 without distinct spots ; snout sharp ; eye moderate, 5 to 7 in head. 

 Head 3J; depth 4J. D. X-l, 29. A. I, 13. Lat. 1. 80. L. 2 

 feet. Cape Cod to Fla., an abundant and most excellent food-fish. 

 aa. Soft dorsal scaleless ; back and upper fins with many conspicuous round 



black spots. 



389. C. nebulosus (Cuv. & Val.). SPOTTED WEAK-FISH. Sil- 

 very, back bluish. Head. 3; depth 5. D. X-l, 25. A. I, 10. 



