ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA. 93 



ercle, 1 on subopercle, and about 9 on opercle ; temporal region with 

 about 8 rows of scales, which become smaller posteriorly ; bases of 

 soft dorsal and anal scaly. Dorsal spines weak and slender, the outline 

 of the fin not greatly curved, the fourth spine longest, 273 in head, 

 the tenth spine 3/3 in head ; margin of soft dorsal angulate, the 

 ninth ray longest, twice last and \y 2 times first ray, 2 in head; cau- 

 dal well forked, upper lobe the longer, If length of middle rays, 

 which are about "2\ in head ; anal regular, similar to soft dorsal, the 

 middle rays more ^elevated than in any other species, longest 2^ 

 length of last, 2 in head ; first ray nearly reaching tip of last when 

 the fin is depressed ; the second and third anal spines rather strong, 

 of equal length, 3^ in head ; ventrals If in head ; pectorals reach- 

 ing slightly past origin of anal, 1 T 3 ^ in head. Color in life, dark olive- 

 green above, many of the scales with pale-blue spots, these forming 

 irregular oblique streaks upward and backward ; similar stripes more 

 regular and numerous on caudal peduncle and above anal. In old fishes 

 these blue spots and streaks disappear ; belly white, strongly tinged 

 with brick-red ; about 6 narrow, dusky, vertical bars, a little broader 

 than the interspaces and not well denned, between gill opening and 

 anal ; head bronze-olive, darker above ; a broad, undulating, pearly 

 streak from snout below eye to upper edge of gill opening ; a narrow 

 blue streak from eye to nostrils ; iris fiery red ; pectorals, caudal, 

 anal and ventrals brick-red, the caudal narrowly margined with black 

 and little bronzed above ; dorsal reddish along the rays and tips of 

 membranes, otherwise yellowish ; distinct lateral blotch just above 

 the lateral line and below the first soft ray on dorsal, about as large 

 as pupil, smaller than in other species similarly marked, and seldom 

 disappearing with age ; axil and bar across base of pectoral above, 

 pale or dusky olive. In spirits the markings become fainter, the lat- 

 eral blotch and the bluish streaks on head usually persisting." 

 Weight to 12 pounds ; average, 5 pounds. 



Usually called simply "Mutton-fish." Caught in the channels 

 and cuts of Biscayne Bay, and on the ' ' patches, ' ' to Key West, with 

 rod and reel, line 18-21, hooks 5-6$. Same bait as used there for 

 other fish. Edible, B. 



