FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
313 
Color grayish above; pale underneath; the largest specimen spotted with pale markings; back 
usually with three or four longitudinal stripes, not visible in large examples; lateral line in a black 
streak; dorsal and caudal fins brownish, the first dorsal with a black blotch between the fourth and 
sixth rays, more or less ocellated in young; anal and ventrals pale; pectorals largely bluish black, 
usually with the uppermost ray white, the fin being crossed in the largest individuals at hand by 
wavy black lines. Color in life (based on 12 specimens, 9 to 15 inches in length, observed in the 
aquarium at Woods Hole, Mass.) pale green or light brown above, white below; four or five promi- 
nent to obscure, regularly-placed, dark, saddlelike blotches on back (these generally more prominent 
than in carolinus ) , the first blotch under first dorsal, the second between dorsal fins, the third and 
fourth under second dorsal, the fifth on caudal peduncle; a prominent dark brown stripe, usually 
broken posteriorly, along lower part of side; brown markings on head, forming bars and concentric 
lines (no orange markings on head, no dusky markings on branchiostegals and throat, and no 
brownish streaks on dorsal, as in carolinus); first dorsal yellowish brown, with large black blotch 
usually extending from the fourth to the sixth spines, occasionally only from the fourth to the fifth 
spines; caudal and anal pale brown or yellowish brown, with pale edges; ventrals yellowish or pale; 
pectorals orange to brown, with pale edges, center of fin washed with dusky (this area not divided 
into two bars, as in carolinus), prominent dark brown or black wavy cross lines present; filaments 
of pectorals white, with pale brown or orange, marked with narrow brown bars (the bars absent in 
carolinus) . 
Fig. 188— Prionotus evolans 
This species, as here understood, is represented by 18 specimens, ranging from 60 to 340 milli- 
meters (2% to 13H> inches) in length. This species is distinguished from its relatives largely by the 
rather weak spines and weak striations on the head, by the rather numerous gill rakers, and by the 
color. The largest specimens in the collection appear to belong to the nominal species, P. stri- 
gatus. P. strigatus, as described, apparently differs from P. evolans chiefly in color. The specimens 
at hand indicate that the color pattern, namely the black-striped pectoral fins, develop with age. 
The largest specimen, 340 millimeters, has the pectoral fins very distinctly cross-striped; another, 
' 300 millimeters, is somewhat less distinctly striped, and one of 245 millimeters has them obscurely 
cross-striped. The specimens at hand quite certainly are all of one species and here are referred to 
P. evolans. 
Five stomachs of this sea robin were examined for food and found to contain only small crus- 
taceans, principally Mysis. The spawning habits and the rate of growth are as yet unknown. 
This species grows somewhat larger and is less common than P. carolinus in Chesapeake Bay. 
A maximum length of 18 inched has been recorded. It is not eaten and has no commercial value. 
Habitat. — Massachusetts Bay to South Carolina. 
Chesapeake localities. — (a) Previous records: “Lower part of Chesapeake Bay” (Uhler and 
Lugger, 1876) and Cape Charles city, Va. ( b ) Specimens in collection: Mobjack Bay, Cape 
Charles, off Fortress Monroe, Buckroe Beach, Lynnhaven Roads, and Ocean View, Va. 
