188 
BULLETIN OE THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
resemblance to the adult (fig. 45) is already striking, both in form and color. The 
form is quite similar to that of MenticirrJms saxatilis of the same size, but the ventral 
fins are somewhat shorter, not reaching to vent. The coloration is much paler 
than in M. saxatilis. In preserved specimens the general ground color of the body 
and head is silvery, with brownish chromatophores forming a pattern of cloudy 
bands similar to that of the adult. The membrane of the spinous dorsal is sparsely 
punctulate with brownish; that of the soft dorsal has a group of dusky punctula- 
tions basally about the middle of the fin, as has also the anal; the pectorals are 
hyaline; ventrals white with a few punctulations of dusky on the membrane; caudal 
hyaline, with a group of dusky chromatophores at the base of the median rays. 
Specimens 2.5 cm. (1 inch) in length possess well-developed ctenoid scales. Speci- 
mens of 5 to 6 cm. (2 to 2f inches) in length show little change. A group of dark 
punctulations has appeared on the base of the upper caudal rays, and the membrane 
of the soft dorsal is punctulate basally for its entire length. 
Measurements of two large samples of young fish, taken at Fernandina, Fla., 
on December 8, 1919, and March 8, 1920, indicate that there is no perceptible 
growth during the winter months, even in southern waters, and that the modal 
length attained by the second winter is about 17 cm. (6f inches), with extremes 
of from 14 to 24 cm. (5^ to 9J inches). 
Examination of the scales of a small series of New Jersey examples tends to 
confirm the hypothesis that they were spawned in the late fall, passing the first 
winter in the post-larval stage at a length of about 4 cm. (1£ inches) and attaining 
a length of about 16 cm. (61 inches) the second, and of about 25 cm. (9f inches) 
the third winter. Maturity is reached at the age of 3 years. This growth is some- 
what less than that shown for Menticirrhus saxatilis in the same region, but the 
fact that New Jersey is about the northern limit of the range of this species must 
be considered. Examples from Florida show, as might be expected, a somewhat 
faster rate of growth. 
Considerable agility on the part of the younger examples of Menticirrhus 
americanus is indicated by the larval and post-larval fishes that have been found 
in their stomach contents. The lists below give the foods with their proportions 
expressed in volumetric percentages. Sizes of examples are given in standard 
length. 
Boca Grande, Fla., April 2, 1917. — Of 50 examples, 2.8 to 5.8 cm. in length, 
all had full digestive tracts. 
Volumetric 
percentage. 
Schizopodous forms 85 
Polychset worms 2 
Fish 6 
Unidentified material 7 
The schizopodous forms formed by far the greater bulk. The individuals 
averaged about 6 mm. in length and were probably of the genus Mysis. In two 
specimens a few sand grains were noted. The fish remains are tabulated below, 
together with the lengths of the individuals from which they were taken. 
