356 Surmullets, Croakers, etc. 
another large fish, similar in value to the red drum. Pseudo- 
sciena antarcaca is the kingfish of Australia. To Sciena belong 
many species, largely Asiatic, with the mouth inferior, without 
barbels, the teeth small, and the convex snout marked with 
mucous pores. Sciena umbra, the ombre, is the common 
European species, Sciena saturna, the black roncador of Cali- 
fornia, is much likeit. Sci@na deliciosa is one of the most valued 
Fig. 293.—Red Drum, Scicwnops ocellata Linnxus. Texas. 
food-fishes of Peru, and Sci@na argentata is valued in Japan. 
Species of Scz@na are especially numerous on the coasts of India. 
Roncador stearnsi, the California roncador, is a large fish with a 
black ocellus at the base of the pectoral. It has some importance 
in the Los Angeles market. The goody, spot, or lafayette (Le/o- 
stomus xanthurus) 1s a small, finely flavored species abundant 
from Cape Cod to Texas. Similar to it but inferior is the little 
roncador (Genyonemus lineatus) of California. The common 
croaker, \licropogon undulatus, is very abundant on our Eastern 
coast, and other species known as verrugatos or white-mouthed 
drummers replace it farther South. 
In Umbrina the chin has a short thick barbel. The species 
abound in the tropics, Umbrina cirrosa in the Mediterranean; 
Umbrina corotdes in California, and the handsome Umibrina 
roncador, the yellow-tailed roncador, in southern California. 
The kingfish, Menticirrhus, ditfers in lacking the air-bladder, 
and lying on the bottom in shallow water the lower fins are 
enlarged much as in the darters or gobies. All the species are 
American. All are dull-colored and all excellent as food. J/ei- 
tucirrhus saxatilts is the common kingfish or sea-mink, abundant 
