Surmullets, Croakers, etc. 255 
The otoliths of the river-drum are known to Wisconsin boys 
as “‘lucky-stones,” each having a rude impress of the letter L. 
The names roncador, drum, thunder-pumper, croaker, and the 
like refer to the grunting noise made by most Scienide in the 
water, a noise at least connected with the large and divided 
air-bladder. 
Numerous silvery species belong to Larimus, Corvula, Odon- 
toscion, and especially to Batrdiella, a genus in which the second 
anal spine is unusually strong. The mademoiselle, Bazrdiella 
Fic. 292.—Mademoiselle, Bairdiella chrysura (Linnus). Virginia. 
chrysura is a pretty fish of our Atlantic coast, excellent as a 
pan fish. In Bazrdiella ensifera of Panama the second anal 
spine is enormously large, much as in a robalo (Oxylabrax). 
In Stellifer and Nebris, the head is soft and spongy. Stelli- 
jer lanceolatus is occasionally taken off South Carolina, and 
mumerous other species of this and related genera are found 
farther South. 
Scienops ocellata is the red-drum or channel bass of ours 
South Atlantic coast, a most important food-fish reaching a 
weight of seventy-five pounds. It is well marked by a black 
ocellus on the base of the tail. On the coast of Texas, this 
species, locally called redfish, exceeds in economic value all other 
species found in that State. 
Pseudosciena aquila, the maigre of southern Europe, is 
