THE FISHES Or XEW JERSEY. 329 



Key to the genera. ^ 



a. Otolithix-E. \'ertebrse 14 or 14 — 10 or 11. abdominal portion of spinal 

 column having always more than caudal portion ; anal inserted poster- 

 iorly; body more or less elongate: mouth large, mandible protruding. 



CYNOSCION 



aa. Vertebrae 9 to 12 -f 13 to 20, typically 10 — 14. or those in abdominal 

 part always less than caudal portion. 

 h. Sci.SNiN.^. Lower pharyngeals separate. 

 c. No mandibular barbels. 



d. Teeth well developed, permanent in both jaws. 



e. Gill-rakers long, slender. bairdiella 



ee. Gill-rakers short, thick, usually not longer than posterior 

 nostril. sci-i:NOPS 



dd. Teeth very small, mandibular wanting or deciduous. 



LEIOSTOMUS 



cc. Mandible with i or more barbels. mexticirrhus. 



hh. ApLODixoTix.i. Lower pharyngeals very large, completely united, 



covered with coarse, blunt, paved teeth. pogoxias 



Genus Cynoscion Gill. 

 The Weak Fishes. 



Key to the species. 



\ 



h. Rayed dorsal and anal more or less closely scaled ; gill-rakers long, 



slender. 9 to 12 on lower part of arch. regalis 



hb. Rayed dorsal and anal scaleless ; gill-rakers short, thick. 6 to 8 on lower 



part of arch. xebulosus 



Cynoscion regalis (Schneider). 



Weak Fish. Squeateague. Bhie Fish. 



Head 3^-^ : depth 4^4 ; D- ^-T 2y. i; A. H, 11, i; scales about 

 55 in lateral line to base of caudal and 7 more on latter; 9 scales 

 betAveen origin of spinous dorsal and lateral line; 10 scales be- 

 tween origin of spinous anal and lateral line in a vertical series ; 

 mandible i^^Ae in head; second dorsal spine 2^4; first dorsal 

 ^^y 3^3' second anal ray 2^; least depth of caudal peduncle 

 3>^ ; caudal ij4 ; pectoral i^e'- ventral 2. Body long, com- 

 pressed, of rather fusiform appearance. Head compressed, large, 

 lower profile more inclined than upper, which would form an 

 obtuse ansrle above middle of leno-th of snout and is then nearly 



