336 Bass, Pike, and Perch 



THE SNAPPER FAMILY 



(^LutianidcB) 



This family of perchlike fishes is related to the 

 grunts on one hand, and to the groupers, or sea- 

 basses, on the other. Those to be described here 

 are mostly of small or moderate size, but are all 

 good food-fishes and fair game-fishes. They are 

 abundant along the Florida Keys, and with the 

 exception of the red snapper are caught in a 

 similar manner, and with the same tackle and 

 baits, as the grunts. They are characterized by 

 an oblong body more or less elevated and com- 

 pressed; rough scales, large head and mouth; 

 teeth sharp and unequal; dorsal fin single, with 

 ten or twelve spines ; anal fin similar in shape to 

 soft dorsal fin, with three spines ; the caudal fin 

 concave. 



Ocyurus chrysurus. The Vellow-tail. The yellow-tail differs from 

 the other snappers in the formation of the skull, the peculiar 

 form of its body, the large, deeply-forked caudal fin, and the 

 presence of pterygoid teeth. Its body is elliptical, with regu- 

 larly-arched back ; head 3 ; depth 3 ; scales 7-65-15 ; D. X, 13 ; 

 A. Ill, 9 ; mouth small, oblique, the lower jaw projecting, max- 

 illary reaching front of orbit ; snout pointed ; caudal peduncle 

 long and slender ; eye small, 5 ; interorbital space very convex, 

 with median keel ; upper jaw with a narrow band of villiform 

 teeth, outside of which is a single series of larger teeth, several 

 in front being caninelike ; a large, oval patch of teeth on tongue ; 



