CATOSTOMID^,— CIX. 313 



lips thin, very faintly plicate; width of head through the 

 opercles greater than the thickness of the Body; head 4^ 

 in length; depth about the same; dorsal rays 13; scales 

 6 — 43 — 5; body shortish, closely compressed, the back 

 somewhat elevated, and the caudal peduncle unusually 

 long in proportion; color smoky blue; lower fins white; 

 size probably small. Alabama River. 

 ee. Head normal in form, not as above. 

 / Mouth moderate or large, not very small, nor very much 



overpassed by the muzzle; lips thick, strongly plicate; 



body stoutish, varying to moderately elongate; dorsal fin 



medium, its developed rays 12 to 14, usually 13 in number ; 



scales large, about 6 — 45 — 5 ; lower fins in the adult red or 



orange. 



3. M. macrolepidota, (LeS.) Jordan. Red Hoese. 

 Common Mullet. Head comparatively elongate, 4 to 

 5 in length; mouth large; size very large, reaching a 

 length of two feet or more. U. S., east of the Great 

 Plains, every where common, except in New England. 



Var. duquesnii, (LeS.) Jordan. Common Red Hoese. 

 White Suckke. Head quite elongate, 4 to 4| in length ; 

 back little elevated; body rather elongate, not greatly 

 compressed; scales pretty large, 6 — 43 to 49 — 5; back 

 bluish or olive; sides brilliantly silvery, with bright 

 reflections; dorsal fin dusky above; lower fins bright red. 

 Ohio River and Southward, very abundant, the common 

 " Red Horse " in most regions. 



Var. lachrymalis, (Cope) Jordan. Southern R. Head 

 a little shorter, 4rJ to 4|- in length; form of the preceding; 

 scales distinctly smaller, 7 or 8 — 48 to 50 — 6 ; back with 

 much smoky shading. Virginia to Alabama. 



Var. maorolepidota, (LeS.) Jor. Lake Mullet. 

 Easteen Red Hobsb, Head still shorter and deeper, i\ 



M. 



