THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 325 



Archosargus prohatocephalus Bean, Bull. U. S. F. Com., VH, 

 1887, p. 142, PL 3, %. 10.— Moore, Bull. U. S. F. Com., XH, 

 1892, p. 362.— Smith, Bull. U. S. F. Com., XH, 1892, p. 374. 



Sargus ovicephalus Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 809. 



Family GERRID^. 

 The Mojarras. 



Body oblong or elevated, compressed. Mouth moderate, ex- 

 tremely protractile, descending when protruding. Spines of pre- 

 maxillary extending to above eye, closing a deep groove on top 

 of head. Maxillary without supplemental bone, not slipping 

 under very narrow preorbital, its surface silvery like rest of head. 

 A slit between base of mandible and preorbital to permit its free 

 motion. Both jaws with slender villiform teeth. No incisors, 

 canines or molars. No teeth on vomer or palatines. Nostrils 

 double, round. Preopercle entire or serrate. Gill-membranes 

 separate, free from isthmus. Gill-rakers short, broad. Pseudo- 

 branchi^ concealed. Branchiostegals 6." Lower pharyngeals 

 close together, often appearing united, teeth blunt. Air-vessel 

 present. Pyloric coeca rudimentary. Vertebrse 10 + 14 = 24. 

 Oviparous. Body covered with large smooth scales. Sides of 

 head scaly. Lateral line continuous, concurrent wdth back. Dor- 

 sal fin single, continuous or deeply notched, spinous and rayed 

 portions about equally developed with scaly sheath along base. 

 Dorsal spines usually IX or X. Anal usually with III spines, 

 soft portion of fin similar to soft dorsal but shorter. Ventrals 

 thoracic, I, 5, rather close together and slightly behind pectorals. 



Moderate or small-sized carnivorous fishes in tropical seas, ex- 

 ternally very similar in appearance. The. larger species are food- 

 fishes of fine flavor. One species has been taken on our shores. 



Genus EuciNOSTOMUS Baird. 



The Mojarritas. 



Eucinostomus gula (Cuvier). 



Head 4 in total; D. IX, 10; A. Ill, 7, or 8; P. 13; V. I, 5; 

 eye large, 3 in head. Mouth small, very protractile, and when 



