THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 381 



ocular, occipital and nuchal spines low depressed. Temporal 

 ridge conspicuous, without spines. Lower edge of preopercle 

 below spine with 2 spinules. A smaller spine at base of pre- 

 opercular spine externally. Gill-rakers 12 v, lanceolate, rather 

 short, and longest about equal to diameter of pupil. Scales on 

 trunk uniform in size, except on breast, and out on base of caudal, 

 where they are smaller. Spinous dorsal inserted about midway 

 between gape of mouth and origin of rayed fin, third and fourth 

 spines longest and anterior margin of first finely serrate. Rayed 

 dorsal inserted about midway between gape of mouth and base 

 of caudal, last rays highest. Anal similar, inserted a trifle pos- 

 terior, and tips of radii free. Caudal emarginate, tip of upper 





4 



^■■^vT^^ 



Rock Pig Fish. Prionotus carolinus (Linnseus). 



lobe a little longer. Origin of pectoral opposite that of dorsal 

 and fin extending a trifle behind base of sixth dorsal ray. Ventral 

 inserted a little before origin of pectoral and reaching anal, mar- 

 gin of fin notched. Generally brown mottled with darker, espec- 

 ially fins. Spinous dorsal with a black ocellus superiorly between 

 fourth and fifth spines. Back with 3 broad transverse dusky- 

 brown bands, intermediate areas each with a narrower and paler 

 band. Gill-membranes dusky. Pectoral blackish, its upper mar- 

 gin whitish. Anal with a median pale dusky longitudinal streak, 

 lower margin whitish. Iris yellowish. Length about a foot. 

 Sea Isle City. 



