FISHES OF NEW YORK 367 



as long as the first, interspace between the dorsals equal to 

 three fifths of length of head, upper margin of soft dorsal deeply 

 concave, base of fin equal to length of postorbital part of head, 

 the longest ray three fifths of head, the last ray one fourth the 

 length of head; caudal deeply forked, its middle rays one half 

 as long as the head, its external rays equal to the head; pectoral 

 reaches the eighth row of scales, its length equal to head with- 

 out snout; ventral origin midway between tip of snout and third 

 ray of anal, its distance from vent equal to its own length, 

 which is two thirds of length of head; about 24 rows of scales 

 between the head and the anal origin, base of anal three fifths 

 as long as the head, longest anal ray equal to length of post- 

 orbital part of head, last anal ray two sevenths of length of 

 head. D. IV-I, 8; A. Ill, 9. Scales 12-38. 



Color silvery, bluish above; no dusky streaks along the sides 

 in life, but faint streaks are evident after preservation in 

 spirits; a small dark blotch at base of pectoral; caudal pale, 

 yellowish at base, dusky at tip; anal and ventrals yellowish; 

 two yellow blotches on side of head. 



The white mullet reaches the length of 1 foot. On the 

 Atlantic coast it ranges from Cape Cod to Brazil; in the Pacific 

 it is recorded from California to Chile. It is a very important 

 food fish. 



The white mullet appears with the striped species, but is less 

 abundant in Gravesend bay and is smaller in size. The young 

 were taken in Great South bay in August 1898, and half grown 

 individuals were abundant in September and October. Adults 

 were scarce. 



Dr Mitchill calls this the summer mullet. He records a speci- 

 men that weighed 2J pounds, the heaviest coming under his 

 observation. DeKay found the species in New York markets 

 in July and August. 



185 Mugil trichodon Poey 

 Whirligig Mullet (young); Fantail Mullet 



Mugil trichodon Poey, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y. XI, 66, pi. 8, fig.s. 4 to 8, 

 1875, Cuba; Joedan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 816', 1896. 



Mugil brasiliensis Jordan & Swaik, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mtis. 270, 1884; not 

 of Agassiz fide Jordan & Evebmann. 



