THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 343 



portion usually long, its spines rather slender, III to XX in 

 number. Anal similar to soft dorsal, with II to VI spines. Ven- 

 trals thoracic, I, 5, inserted below pectorals, which are sometimes 

 subthoracic. 



Fishes of the tropical seas, living among rocks or kelp. Many 

 are brilliantly colored, and some are valued as food. Most feed 

 upon mollusks, the dentition being adapted for crushing shells. 

 Two species on our shores. - 



Key to the genera. 



a. Preopercle serrate ; opercles scaly ; muzzle a little pointed, tautogolabrus 

 aa. Preopercle entire ; opercles naked ; muzzle a little blunt. tautoga 



Genus Tautogolabrus Giinther. 



The Gunners. 



Tautogolabrus adspersus (Walbaum). 



Plate 69. 



Bengal. Gall. Bergall. Nibbler. Conner. 



Head 3% ; depth 3>4 ; D. XVIII, 10; A. Ill, 9; scales 36 in 

 lateral line to base of caudal and 4 more on latter; 6 scales ob- 

 liquely back from base of third dorsal spine; 13 scales in a 

 vertical series between origin of spinous anal and lateral line; 

 snout 3V10 in head; eye 4^; maxillary 4^ ; interorbital space 

 3^ ; seventeenth dorsal spine 2j4 ; fourth dorsal ray 2^ / ^^ ; third 

 anal spine 2j^ ; fifth anal ray 2; caudal 1^/7; least depth of cau- 

 dal peduncle 2; pectoral ij^ ; ventral i J^. Body elongate, rather 

 slender, robust, compressed. Head rather large, nearly as deep 

 as long, with conic profile. Snout conic. Eye high, anterior, 

 and a little elongate. Jaws not notably produced, even. Mouth 

 oblique. Maxillary not quite reaching e3^e. Teeth unequal, conic, 

 pointed, and no posterior canines. In front of upper jaw 4 

 canines, and same number in lower. Lateral teeth enlarging 

 anteriorl3^ Bands of small concave teeth behind canines. Lips 

 thick and fleshy. Interorbital space convex. Margin of pre- 



