SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE OF FISHES. 293 



first arch; scales in lateral series 50, in transverse series 8 + 17, those above lateral line larger 

 and in irregular and oblique rows; those below in oblique rows; dorsal rays xri,16, the spinous 

 part much higher than soft, the longest spine (third or fourth) equal' to snout; anal rays iii,8, 

 the second spine twice diameter of eye, the soft rays longer than those in soft dorsal; caudal 

 rather deeply forked; pectorals pointed, .66 length of head; ventrals .6 head. Color: bluish 

 gray, bases of scales with greenish bronze spots forming oblique lines; head golden, with num- 

 erous sharply defined narrow sky-blue stripes mostly horizontal, 3 or 4 of the stripes extending 

 to anterior part of back; inside of mouth bright orange; fins all grayish, spinous part of dorsal 

 with yellow margin; anal tinged with yellow, ventrals with blue luster. (Named for Father 

 Plumier, who more than 200 years ago sent drawings of Martinique fishes to Europe.) 



This grunt is found from North CaroHna to Brazil, and is abundant on the 

 lower part of the South Atlantic coast. At Ke}'^ West it is more abundant than 

 all other grunts combined, and it is also quite common on the coast of South 

 Carolina. The largest fish are 18 inches long, but the average is under 1 foot. 

 This species doubtless occurs regularly on the various banks lying off the North 

 Carolina coast, and Mr. Earll noted the species as one of those caught in the 

 summer line-fishing off Wilmington. Yarrow said of this fish at Beaufort: 

 " Very abundant in early spring and summer, generally found in marshy creeks 

 inside of inlet; size 4 to 8 inches." There is considerable doubt, however, as 

 to the species Yarrow had in mind, and Jordan & Gilbert believed that his 

 remarks referred to the pig-fish (Orthopristis). 



Mr. W. H. Yopp, of Wilmington, in November, 1905, forwarded to the 

 writer 2 grunts of this species that had recently been caught on the "snapper 

 banks" off Cape Fear; the specimens were 11.5 and 12.5 inches long. The fish 

 is known as " snapper' ' in the Wilmington market and among the local fishermen, 

 and is caught in considerable quantities from May to October. The market fish 

 weigh from half a pound to 1.5 pounds, and bring the fishermen about 2.5 

 cents a pound. 



Genus BATHYSTOMA Scudder. Tom-tates. 



Similar to Hsemulon and perhaps scarcely separable therefrom, but with the 

 dorsal spines definitely 13. Body rather elongate, back very little elevated, 

 mouth large and low, eye large, gill-rakers on first arch rather numerous (12 to 

 18 on lower hmb), preopercle not serrate, inside of mouth red. Three known 

 species, with center of abundance in the West Indies, one found as far north as 

 Cape Hatteras. (Bathystoma, low mouth.) 



257. BATHYSTOMA RIMATOB (Jordan & Swain). 

 "Grunt"; Tom-tate; Red-mouthed Grunt. 



Hamulon rimator Jordan & Swain, Proceedings U. S. National Museum, 1884, 308; Charleston, Key West, 

 and Pensacola. Jordan & Fesler, Review of the Sparoid Fishes of America and Europe, 477, 1893; 

 refers to specimens from North Carolina, 



Diabasis chrysoptenis, Earll, 1887, 493; black-fish banks off Wilmington. ; 



Bathystoma rimator, Jordan & Evermann, 1898, 1308, pi. ccvi, fig. 534. 



Diagnosis. — Form moderately elongate, back slightly elevated, deptli about one-third 

 length; head about equal to depth; mouth large, maxillary extending to middle of eye, .5 length 

 of head; teeth in bands, rather weak; snout somewhat more than .33 length of head; eye large. 



