SPOTS, CROAKERS AND RONCADORS. 133 
‘port, April, 15, 1878, had the spawn running free fromthem. The largest 
adult did not exceed eight inches in length. 
On the Florida coast of the Gulf of Mexico, according to Stearns, they 
are very common. They wer= found by Jordan to be very abundant 
along the shores of Louisiana and Texas. At Pensacola they are known 
by the name ‘‘ Mademoiselle."” They are present throughout the year, 
but most plenty from May until November, and are found in company with 
the trout and the Spot on the grassy shoals of the bays where they feed 
and spawn. The time for spawning is in June and July. They feed 
chiefly upon small fishes and shrimps. They do not school, but swim 
singly or in pairs. Their extreme length does not exceed ten or eleven 
inches, the average being about eight. They are regarded as excellent 
pan-fish. 
\ THE CROAKER, 
The Croaker, Wicropogon undulatus, ranges from New York at least to 
the Gulf of Mexico, although rarely seen north of Delaware. It occurs 
also in some of the West Indian islands and south of Brazil. Its name 
refers to the peculiar grunting sound which it utters, but in the Chesa- 
peake this name has been corrupted into ‘‘ Crocus.’’ In Texas it is called 
““Ronco.”’ 
At Beaufort, N. C., according to Jordan, it is very abundant, and, next 
to the mullet and the Spot, is the most common food-fish of the region. 
Holbrook states that the Croaker makes its appearance off Charleston in 
the month of May, but becomes common in shallow water in June and 
July, and is most abundant and attains its largest size in October and 
