344 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



opercle finely serrated. Gill-rakers 5 + 10, short and spinescent. 

 Scales rather small, smaller still on predorsal region and base of 

 caudal. Opercle scaly, and 4 rows on cheek, and head with these 

 exceptions naked. Fins naked, except base of caudal. Lateral 

 line interrupted at caudal peduncle. Dorsal long, low, spinous 

 portion much longer than rayed, margin notched, a little higher 

 posteriorly, and inserted a trifle behind origin of pectoral. Rayed 

 dorsal rounded, and inserted a little nearer base of caudal than 

 tip of depressed pectoral. Spinous anal inserted about midway 

 between origin of pectoral and base of caudal, graduated to third 

 spine, which is longest, .second subequal. Rayed anal similar 

 to rayed dorsal. Caudal with convex posterior margin. . Pec- 

 toral broad, rounded, a little over half way to origin of anal. 

 Ventral inserted a little behind origin of pectoral, about J^ of 

 space to anal. Color in life livid bluish, shaded dusky above. 

 Length 6j4 inches. Anglesea. 



Abundant along our coast, and a pest to wharf-fishermen, as it 

 nibbles the bait off the hook. They are useful as scavengers, 

 however, and though of too small size as food-fish, reaching a 

 length of but 10 inches, are of fine flavor. It prefers the vicinity 

 of wharves, rocks or abrupt banks. My examples from Grassy 

 Sound and Barnegat Pier. 



Taufogolabrus adspersiis Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 809. 



Ctcnolahrus adspersiis Bean, Bull. U. S. F. Com., VH, 1887, 

 p. 137.— Smith, Bull. U. S. Fish Com., XII, 1892, p. 378. 



Ctenolahrus ccuritleus Baird, Icon. Encyl. Sci. Lit. Art., II, 

 1851, p. 218. 



Genus TauToga Mitchill. 



The Black Fishes. 

 Tautoga onitis (Linnaeus). 



PivATE 70. 



Black Fish. Tautoga. Tautog. Smooth Black Fish. Chub. 



Sea Tog. 



Head 3 ; depth 3^ ; D. XVII, 10, i; A. Ill, 10, i; scales 60 in 

 lateral line to base of caudal and 6 more on latter; snout 3 in 



