FAMILY MUGILIDJ: — MUGIL. 145 



imraerous niinute acute bristly recurved tcetli, loosely inserted in the gtuns. Lower jaw 

 slightly pointed, with an elevated ridge over the symphisis, winch is received into a cor- 

 responding cavity in the upper jaw. A transverse membranous fold on the upper jaw. 

 Palatines with asperities in front. Tongue free, triangular, ridged in the middle. 



The anterior dorsal fin commences at the distance of 3'1 from the end of the snout, and 

 is placed in a slight depression, with an elongated scale on each side of die base ; it contains 

 four spinous rays, of which the first is longest, the last slender and delicate. The second 

 dorsal fin larger, subquadrate, and excavatcil on the posterior part of its margin ; coinposed 

 of eight branched rays, the last longer than tlie three preceding. Ventral fins with axillary 

 plates, and with a robust spinous ray ecpialing in length the last branched ray ; these fins are 

 placed under a point equidistant between the base of the pectorals and the first dorsal. Pec- 

 toral fins with sixteen articulated rays ; the first simple, the remainder branched. Anal fin 

 beneath the second dorsal, with three spinous and eight branched rays ; the first spinous ray 

 very short ; the first and second branched rays longest, the sixth shortest, the fifth and eighth 

 subequal. Caudal fin deeply cmarginatc. 



Color. Purplish brown above ; lighter on the sides, with ten to twelve dark brown longi- 

 tudinal stripes on the sides of the body ; these disappear soon after death. Head with 

 greenish metallic reflections ; sides of the head yellowish. Pupils black ; irides yellowish 

 or soiled white. A dark bluish or purplish spot at the base of the pectoral fins. Abdomen 

 pearl-grey. 



Length, 7 "5. 



Fin rays, D. 4.8; P. 16; V. 1..5; A. 3.8; C. 12 i. 



This Mullet was first detected on our coast by Dr. Mitchill, who sent a specimen, with the 

 name and a description, many years ago. They appear in our markets in the beginning of 

 September, and are highly esteemed. The fishermen behave them to be identical with the 

 preceding. I have seen specimens three incites long, which I suppose to be the young of this 

 species. In these the dorsal outline is nearly straight, and tlie abdomen cultrate. This pro- 

 duces such a strongly marked variation from the original form, that if considered bv itself, it 

 might readily be taken for an undescribed species. 



Its geographic limits are unknown. It is probably cominon along our whole southern coast, 

 and New^-York is probably its farthest northern range. 



Fauna — Part 4. 19 



