sci-enid:® of the eastern united states coast. 199 
GENERAL REMARKS ON FOOD OF ATLANTIC COAST SCI^NID^. 
The feeding habits of the Scisenidse can be correlated directly with their physical 
characters and habitat. The fast-s wimmin g species of open waters, such as 
Cynoscion regalis, have been found to feed chiefly on organisms of pelagic regions, 
which in many cases necessitated considerable pursuit on the part of the feeder; the 
slower moving species, such as Micropogon undulatus, on organisms found on or near 
the bottom. This is brought out by a comparison of the lists of food for Cynoscion 
regalis taken at Cape May, August 8, 1916 (p. 160) with that for Menticirrhus saxatilis 
of about the same size taken at the same place on the same date (p. 194). The 
latter, a comparatively sluggish fish, had taken a considerable quantity of polychset 
worms and no fish; the opposite was true of the former. 
Again, on July 10, 1915, in Winyah Bay, specimens of Cynoscion regalis, Stellifer 
lanceolatus, and Micropogon undulatus were taken. Comparing the stomach con- 
tents of Stellifer lanceolatus and Micropogon undulatus, the former’s pelagic habitat 
was reflected in its food as well as the latter’s bottom-feeding habits in its food. 
A similar comparison might be made between Stellifer and Menticirrhus americanus 
taken on March 9, 1917, at San Luis, Tex. Bairdiella chrysura taken near Cape 
Charles on September 12, 1916, had fed in a manner similar to Cynoscion taken 
at the same time. Bairdiella is also a free-ranging fish, but not to such an extent 
as Cynoscion. The examination of specimens of Menticirrhus americanus, Leiosto- 
mus xanthurus, and Cynoscion regalis, taken in March, 1920, at Fernandina, Fla., 
showed the first two to have been feeding on the bottom, which fact could be 
inferred from their inferior mouths, and Cynoscion with its large terminal gape 
to have been pursuing the organisms of the open water. 
A very fine gradation in the modification of body form is correlated with the 
bathymetrical distribution of this family. At one end are found the more generalized 
forms; for example, Cynoscion, the central habitat of which is slightly below mid- 
water. These grade down through such intermediate forms as Bairdiella, Scisenops, 
and Leiostomus to the typical bottom forms with well-flattened profiles and man- 
dibulary barbels, such as Micropogon, Menticirrhus, and Pogonias. As a whole, 
the family is generally considered as inhabiting the sandy shores of the warmer 
seas, and from this typical habitat there are comparatively few important digressions. 
SUMMARY. 
1. As far as is known, species of the family Scisenidse develop from compara- 
tively small pelagic eggs. 
2. Development is rapid, incubation lasting but a few days, and the larvse 
grow rapidly. 
3. In most cases the post-larval fishes acquire the diagnostic characters of the 
adults in a few months. 
4. Maturity is reached in from one to four years, depending upon the species. 
5. The males of several species are known to mature a year earlier than females 
of the same age. 
6. One species or another can be found spawning at any time during the 
greater part of the year at various places along the Atlantic coast. 
