338 ##55, Pike, and Perch 



Lutianus apodus. The Schoolmaster Snapper. Body comparatively 

 deep, moderately compressed, the back elevated and profile 

 straight; head 2|; depth 2^5 eye 4^; scales 6-43-13; D. X, 

 14; A. Ill, 8; mouth large, maxillary reaching front of orbit; 

 snout long and pointed ; interorbital space flattish ; upper jaw 

 with a narrow band of villiform teeth, a single series of larger 

 ones outside, and 4 canines in front, one on each side very 

 large ; lower jaw with a narrow, villiform band in front, an en- 

 larged series outside; tongue with a large, single patch; an 

 arrow-shaped patch on vomer ; preopercle finely serrate above ; 

 gill-rakers short and thick, about 9 on lower part of arch. 



THE YELLOW-TAIL 



(Ocyurus chrysurus) 



The yellow-tail is a very handsome fish, and 

 one of the favorite pan-fishes at Key West. It 

 was named ctirysurus, or "gold-tail," by Bloch, 

 in 1 790, from its description by Marcgrave in his 

 " Fishes of Brazil." Its habitat is from southern 

 Florida to South America. It is abundant in the 

 vicinity of Key West in the channels between 

 the reefs and keys. 



The yellow-tail is well proportioned, compressed, 

 and elliptical, being regularly curved from head to 

 tail. Its head is as long as the depth of the body, 

 with a pointed snout; the mouth is rather small, 

 with the lower jaw projecting. The color above is 

 olivaceous, or bluish, below violet ; a broad, deep 

 yellow stripe runs from the snout, through the 



