REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OP SCIAENIDAE 
57 
differentiated in the second dorsal and the anal, and a fairly accurate count of the anal 
rays may be made, the number being 7 or 8. The caudal fin is better developed than 
the dorsal and anal; it is round in outline and the longest rays are about equal to the 
depth of the body just posterior to the vent. The pectorals apparently have made 
little advancement and the ventral fins are not evident. The dark longitudinal 
stripes on the caudal portion of the body, described in smaller fish, generally are not 
evident. The stripes, having broken up into large chromatophores, remain in rather 
definite rows in some specimens, but are more scattered in others. In still other 
specimens of this size, and even larger ones, the stripe along the lateral line, however, 
remains well defined. Considerable variation in color, that is, with respect to the 
number, intensity, and arrangement of the spots present, is evident. The distal 
portion of the tail remains pale and almost transparent (fig. 4). 
The chief recognition marks at this size are the deep compressed body, the large 
oblique mouth, the short anal fin, and the rather large, dark markings on the caudal 
portion of the body. However, these markings are faint in some specimens, as shown 
in the foregoing description, while they are large and well defined in others. 
Specimens 8 millimeters long . — The body is proportionately more slender than in 
specimens 5.8 millimeters long and tlfe head is much broader. The rest of the body, 
Figure i.—Menticinhus americanus. From a specimen 5.8 millimeters long. 
however, remains quite strongly compressed. The greatest depth is contained about 
3.0 times in the total length to the base of the caudal fin. The mouth is only slightly 
oblique, the lower jaw is a little shorter than the upper, and the maxillary reaches 
nearly to the posterior margin of the eye. Considerable advancement in the develop- 
ment of the fins has been made. The spinous dorsal is evident now, and the ventral 
fins are rather long and prominent. The pectoral fins have increased greatly in 
length and reach the vent. The caudal fin has become produced and pointed, the 
longest rays being nearly as long as the head. The middle portion of the body is 
largely spotted with dark chromatophores of various sizes, which are present also on 
