738 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY. 



" This species the author has seen a specimen of, in a small 

 collection made at Beesley's Point, and now in the museum of 

 the Philadelphia Academy." — [C. C. A.J 



DIPLODUS, Raf. 



(ArcIiosaTgus, Grill.) 



D. probatocephalus, Walb. (ovioephalus, Gill., Sparus, Sargus ovis.) 

 Sheepshead. 



Grayish, with eight vertical black bands; fins dark; body 

 robust, very deep in old examples; back compressed and 

 elevated; profile very steep; mouth low, horizontal; incisors 

 broad, serrated in young ; cheeks with six rows of scales ; scales 

 on breast small and crowded ; dorsal spines high ; soft dorsal low ; 

 second anal spine strong. Dorsal spines, XII, 12; anal spines, 

 III, 10; scales, 7—45—16; length, 30 inches, 



"This fine fish is quite abundant and most eagerly sought 

 after. They are found on the coast from June or July, accord- 

 ing to the season, until October. Opposite the village of Barne- 

 gat this species is met with quite abundantly, and many are 

 taken by the professional fishermen during the summer months." 



OYPHOSUS, Lac. 



(FimelepteruB, Lac.) 



O. boequi, Lac. [flavolineatus, Peroa sectatrix.) 



Dusky, with about twenty-five light stripes following the rows 

 of scales ; scales of back and belly smaller than on sides ; soft 

 dorsal and anal very low, the latter short ; caudal with lower 

 lobe longer ; top and sides of head and fins finely scaled ; incis- 

 ors lanceolate, with backward projecting processes. Dorsal 

 rays, XII, 12; anal rays. III, 11; scales, 10 — 66 — 20; vertebrae, 

 9 + 16. Massachusetts to Panama. Common southward. 



Family SCIiENIDiE. 



Croakers. 



Skull cavernous; head scaly; no teeth on vomers, &c. ; lateral 

 line extends on to the caudal fin ; so^es thin and ctenoid ; mucous 



