362 NATURAL HISTORY OP AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



N. THE DRUM FAMILY. 



The family Scicenidm is distributed along the coasts of temperate and tropical countries the 

 world over, though most abundant in the Western Atlantic, the Eastern Pacific, and Indian 

 Oceans, and in the Mediterranean Sea. Many of the species are most abundant about the mouths 

 of rivers, and there are several species, such as the fresh- water Drum, Haploidonotus grunniens, 

 of the Mississippi Valley, which are found only in fresh water. In general form many of the 

 members of this family are not unlike the salmon, and are sometimes mistaken for this fish. 

 They are, however, true spiny-rayed fishes. The Drum and its congeners may be distinguished 

 from all others by the presence of the comparatively short, spiny dorsal fin, and a very long, 

 soft-rayed fin upon the posterior portion of the back. 



Many of them are ground-loving species, and are provided with barbels by which they feel 

 their way over the bottom, and with strong, pavement-like teeth for crushing shell-fish and strong 

 shelled crustaceans. To this group belong the fresh-water Drum, the King-fish, and others. 



Another group, typified by the Squeteagues, are without the barbels and possess long, sharp 

 teeth, being surface feeders, rapid swimmers, and voracious. 



The Red Drum of our coast, Scicena ocellata, resembles in some respects both of these groups. 

 Nearly all the members of this family have the power of uttering loud sounds. This, as has been 

 demonstrated by M. Dufoss6, is accomplished through a peculiar structure of the air-bladder. 



116. THE SQUETEAGUE CYNOSCION EEGALE. 



NAMES. This well-known fish is one of those which bear a great variety of names. About Uape 

 Cod they are called "Drummers"; about Buzzard's Bay and in the vicinity the largest are known 

 as "Yellow- fins"; in New York and in New Jersey, "Weak-fish"; from Southern New Jersey to 

 Virginia, "Blnefish." The name "Squeteague" is of Indian origin, and "Squit," " Succoteague," 

 "Squitee," and "Chick wit" are doubtless variations of this name in different ancient and modern 

 dialects. In the Southern Atlantic States it is called "Grey Trout," "Sun Trout," and "Shad 

 Trout," and with the other members of the genus is spoken of under the name "Sea Trout" and 

 " Salt-water Trout," though, of course, distinct from the "trout" of the fresh waters of the South, 

 the large-mouth Black Bass. The name "Squeteague," since it is the aboriginal Indian name, 

 seems most characteristic, and is well worthy of being permanently retained. 



ABUNDANCE. The Squeteague is found on the Atlantic coast from Cape Cod to Eastern 

 Florida, where I observed it sparingly in 1878. Its extreme southern distribution has not yet been 

 indicated. Some writers have claimed that it occurs at New Orleans, but Mr. Stearns did not 

 succeed in finding it in the Gulf, and Professor Jordan writes that it is certainly not found in the 

 Gulf of Mexico, unless as a stray. 



The Squeteague is abundant throughout the above range, except in the regions where its 

 productiveness is interfered with by the bluefish. In Massachusetts Bay, according to Dr. Storer, 

 it is very rare, but scattering individuals have been found as far north as the Bay of Fundy. The 

 early annals of New England make frequent mention of this fish and of its variations in number 

 with that of the bluetish. Thus, according to Dr. Storer, it was very abundant in the Vineyard 

 Sound in the early part of the present century, but gradually became more scarce, until about 



