292 Bass, Pike, and Perch 



common to Florida is a variety or subspecies, 

 that differs principally in the angle of the canine 

 teeth and to some extent in coloration. The 

 variety was first described by Jordan and Swain, in 

 1884, who named \\. phenax, meaning "deceptive," 

 and equivalent to " scamp." It is abundant along 

 the Florida Keys and the offshore "snapper 

 banks," from Key West to Pensacola; those of 

 smaller size frequent inshore waters. 



It resembles the gag very much in its general 

 appearance and in the shape of its body, with a 

 somewhat larger mouth and more projecting lower 

 jaw, also a larger caudal fin, which is more 

 crescentic or scythe-shaped. The depth of its 

 body is about a third of its length. The teeth 

 are in narrow bands, with two canines in each 

 jaw, but these are not so strong as in the Cuban 

 form, and those in the upper jaw are not directed 

 so much forward, nor the lower ones so much 

 backward. The caudal fin is concave or cres- 

 centic, and the scales are larger than those of 

 the gag. The color is pinkish gray above, paler 

 purplish gray below ; the upper part of the body 

 and head is covered with small, rounded, irregular 

 dark brown spots ; the sides and caudal fin with 

 larger and longer pale brownish blotches, some- 



