The Drum Family 229 



South Carolina. He named it xanthurus, mean- 

 ing "yellow tail," under the impression that its 

 caudal fin was yellow, which, however, it is not. 

 Its range extends from Cape Cod to Texas, 

 though it is most abundant from New Jersey to 

 Florida. It is found throughout its range in 

 brackish-water bays and bayous, and is some- 

 what similar in appearance to the croaker. It 

 has a short, deep body ; the back in front of 

 the dorsal fin is compressed to a sharp edge or 

 " razor-back " ; the outline of the back is arched, 

 highest over the shoulder, with a steep profile 

 from thence to the snout ; the depth of the body 

 is more than a third of its length. The head is 

 not so long as the depth of the body ; the snout is 

 blunt and prominent; the mouth is small. There 

 are few or no teeth in the lower jaw, while those 

 in the upper jaw are quite small. The throat is 

 well armed with molars and brushlike teeth. 

 There are two dorsal fins, slightly connected ; the 

 caudal fin is forked. It is bluish or dusky above, 

 with silvery sides and white belly; when fresh 

 from the water it is very iridescent. It has 

 about fifteen narrow, dark, wavy bands extending 

 obliquely downward and forward, from the back 

 to below the lateral line; the fins are olivaceous 



