FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
283 
less on all of the fins; dorsal fins contiguous, the first with slender, flexible spines; the longest spines 
not much higher than the longest rays of the second dorsal; caudal fin lanceolate; second anal 
spine enlarged, not quite as long as the soft rays following it; ventral fins rather small, inserted 
under base of pectorals; pectoral fins rather long, 1.05 in head. 
Color in alcohol uniform silvery, darker above than below; fins mostly plain translucent, the 
spinous dorsal with black margin. 
A single specimen, 165 millimeters (6J^ inches) in length, was secured, and it forms the basis 
for the foregoing description. 
This small drum apparently has not been recorded from any locality north of Beaufort, N. C. 
It probably seldom exceeds the length of the fish in hand, and although abundant on the South 
Atlantic and Gulf coasts it has no commercial value. The young are said to resemble young 
croakers and spots, from which however, they may be distinguished by the larger head and strongly 
oblique mouth. Welsh and Breder (1923, p. 175) state that spawning occurs in late spring or early 
summer, May and June being the principal months during which spawning takes place on the 
Atlantic coast. The eggs and larvae have not been studied, and the species as yet has no common 
name. 
Habitat— Chesapeake Bay to Texas; not common north of South Carolina. 
Chesapeake localities. — (a) Previous records: None. ( b ) Specimen in collection: Taken in a 
pound net in Lynnhaven Roads, Va., July, 1921. 
124. Genus MICROPOGON Cuvier and Valenciennes. Croakers 
Body elongate, compressed; back somewhat elevated; preopercle strongly serrate; teeth in the 
jaws in villiform bands; chin with a row of short, slender barbels on each side; gill rakers short; 
spinous dorsal consisting of 10 to 11 spines; anal with two spines, the second strong and of moderate 
length. A single species of this genus is known from Chesapeake Bay. 
157. Micropogon undulatus (Linnseus). Croaker; Crocus; “Hardhead”; “King Billy.” 
Perea undulatus Linnseus, Syst. Nat., ed. XII, 1766, p. 483; South Carolina. 
Micrupoaon undulatus Uhler and Lugger, 1876, ed. I, p. 119; ed. II, p. 102; Bean, 18SI, p. 89; Smith, 1892, p. 72; Jordan and 
Evermann, 1896-1900, p. 1461, PI. CCXXIV, fig. 570; Evermann and Hildebrand, 1910, p. 162; Fowler, 1912, p. 56, and 1918, p. 18; 
Welsh and Breder, 1923, p. 180. 
Head 2.95 to 3.4; depth 2.9 to 3.65; D. X-I, 28 or 29; A. II, 8; scales 64 to 72. Body elongate, 
compressed; back moderately elevated; head rather long; snout conical, projecting beyond the mouth 
in the adult and proportionately much longer than in the very young, 2.85 to 3.75 in head; eye 
3.35 to 4.8; interorbital 3.35 to 3.8; mouth moderate, horizontal, inferior; maxillary reaching a little 
past front of eye to below middle of eye, 2.3 to 2.85 in head; teeth in the jaws all small, in broad 
villiform bands; chin with several pores and a row of short, slender barbels on each side; preopercle 
with strong, short spines on margin; gill rakers short, 14 to 16 on lower limb of first arch; scales 
moderate, reduced anteriorly above lateral line, strongly ctenoid, extending on the caudal but not on 
the other fins; dorsal fins contiguous, or more or less continuous in young, the first composed of 
slender spines, somewhat elevated, the third and fourth spines longest, higher than any of the rays 
in the soft part; caudal fin slightly double concave in adult, with the upper and middle rays longest, 
sharply pointed in very young; anal fin small, with two strong spines, the first very short, the second 
about two-thirds the length of the soft rays ; ventral fins moderate, inserted under and slightly 
behind base of pectorals; pectorals rather long in adult, reaching well beyond tips of ventrals, 
scarcely reaching tips of ventrals in young, 1.15 to 1.5 in head. 
Color greenish or grayish silvery above, silvery white below, highly irridescent in life; back 
and sides with numerous brassy or brownish spots arranged in oblique, wavy bars on sides, becoming 
less distinct in large individuals. Young of about 100 millimeters and less in length do not have 
the color pattern of the adult, for they are paler; the upper parts bear dark blotches, or mere points, 
jn the very young, these spots becoming vertically elongated when the fish reaches a length of about 
80 millimeters; dorsal fins with numerous dark spots; caudal and pectorals greenish dusky; base of 
pectorals dusky; anal and ventrals yellowish to orange. 
Numerous specimens of this common fish, ranging in length from 10 to 355 millimeters to 
14 inches) in length, were preserved. The principal differences between the young and the adults 
