SCI-aSNIDJE OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES COAST. 
187 
10 The example of 1.2 cm. taken from the stomach of a larger individual has been omitted from this discussion, as it possibly 
has been modified by the action of gastric juices. Briefly, the form of the body and fins are similar to the larger ones described 
in detail, but the pigmentation does not resemble that of the adults so closely, neither is it so dark, the chromatophores being 
fewer and more scattered. Three rows of them above the lateral line and parallel to the back are the most prominent, but we 
can not be sure just how much has been effaced. Probably a considerable change has been effected, however, by the processes 
Gulf of Mexico the species spawned in late fall or early winter, at about the same 
time as Leiostomm xanthurus, young of which were taken with them. The eggs 
and larval stages have not yet been studied. 
Measurements of 58 young examples taken at Fernandina, Fla., December 8, 
1919, seem to indicate that there may be two spawning seasons. Of these fish, 52 
examples showed a length of from 14 to 24 cm. (5£ to 9£ inches), with a mode of 
Fig. 44.— Young fish; actual length, 2.6 cm. 
Fig. 45— Adult fish. 
MENTICIRRHTJS AMERICAUS. 
17 cm. (6f inches). This group was in its second winter and was comparable to 
the young taken at Boca Grande in April. A smaller group, of six fish, was composed 
of individuals from 8 to 11 cm. (3 J to 4J inches) in length. These fish were in their 
first winter, and there is reason to believe that they had been spawned the previous 
spring. It is possible that they were the product of the spawning stated by Smith 
to occur in June. 
The smallest post-larval examples examined (Boca Grande, Fla., April 2, 1917) 
are between 2 and 3 cm. (f and l-f^ inches) in length, 10 and at this size (fig. 44) the 
