382 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Dr. Giinther, who correctly describes theni under the uaroes Mugil line- 

 atus and Mugil brasiliensis. The nomenclature of both is uncertain. 

 The oldest specific name, Mugil albula L., is apparently not available, as 

 its description applies equally to either, and is in some respects incorrect. 

 It is, however, perhaps as applicable to M. brasiliensis as that of Trigla 

 evolans is to our striped Prionotus. The following is Linna?us's descrip- 

 tion: 



" Mugil Albula. M. pinna dorsali antcriore quadriradiata. D. 4, 9. P. 17. V. 

 A. -ft. C. 20, xxx. Habitat in America. D.Garden. Siinillinms M. eephalo." — (Syst. 

 Nat. xii, i, 520, 1766). 



The diagnostic characters and the apparent synonymy of the two 

 species are the following : 



Mugil brasiliensis Agassiz. 

 White Mullet. 



?Catcsby, ii, pi. 5. 



f Curcma Macgr. 181, Pison 70. 



? Mugil albula Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. xii, i, 520, 1766. 



Mugil brasiliensis Agassiz, Spix, Pise. Bras. 234, tab. 72 {fide Giinther). — Giinther, Cat. 



Fishes Brit. Mus. iii, 431. 

 ? Mugil incilis, Hancock, Loud. Quart. Journ. Sc. 1830, 127 (fide Giinther). 

 Mugil curema Cuv. et Val. xi, 87, and of authors. 

 Mugil petrosus Cuv. et Val. xi, 89, aud of authors. 

 Mugil lineatus Storer, Hist. Fishes Mass. 89, pi. 16, f. 4 (good). 



Body somewhat compressed: angle made by the dentary bones about a right angle: 

 space at the chin between the dentary bones somewhat club-shaped: scales larger, 

 running up on the soft dorsal and anal tins: coloration bluish above, the sides silvery 

 without conspicuous dark stripes, but w ith shining streaks, produced by the striation 

 of the scales: a dusky blotch at base of pectorals: tips of caudal and soft dorsal 

 bla.ckish. Anal rays III, 9. Scales 38 — 12. Size less than the next. 



Mugil pluinieri Bloch. 



Striped Mullet, 

 Mugil plumieri Bloch, t. 296, and of authors. • 



Mugil lineatus Mitchill, Cuv. et Val. xi, 96, and of nearly all authors. 

 Mugil albula DeKay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 146. 



Mugil berlandieri Girard, U. S. Mex. Bound. Iohth. p. 20, pi. x. fig. 1 (not fig. 4, which 

 represents the young of M. brasiliensis). 

 Body little compressed: angle of mandible obtuse: space between dentary bones 

 broad and short, rounded anteriorly: scales smaller, not running up on the dorsal and 

 anal fins. Coloration dark bluish above; sides silvery, with series of darker spots, 

 one on each scale, forming conspicuous lateral stripes: a dusky spot at base of pecto- 

 rals. Anal rays III, 8. Scales 42—13. The common "Mullet," so extensively split and 

 salted as a food-fish. 



The two species seem to occur on the same shores, and both range 

 from Massachusetts to South Carolina at least. 



