REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SCIAENIDAE 
67 
permitting an accurate enumeration of the rays. The longest spines in the first 
dorsal reach past the origin of the second dorsal when deflexed; the caudal fin is 
asymmetrically rounded, the longest rays being in the lower half of the fin; and the 
ventral and pectoral fins are rather long and coterminal, not quite reaching vent. 
The body almost everywhere is dotted with prominent black chromatophores. An 
indefinite brownish band is present on the back below the base of the dorsal fins, 
and another one extends along the lateral ventral edge from the origin of the anal 
to the base of the lower rays of the caudal. The spinous dorsal is almost wholly 
black; the second dorsal is colorless, except for an indefinite elongate dark band on 
the base of about the middle third of the fin; the caudal fin is colorless, with a white 
base, and sometimes with one or a few large black chromatophores; the anal fin is 
colorless, except for dark dots on its base; the ventral fins are wholly black; and the 
pectoral fins are plain translucent (fig. 11). 
All the specimens at hand were caught among black, partly suspended vegetable 
debris, which they resemble in color. It seems probable that these fish are darker 
than they would have been had they been taken in a different environment. 
This species is characterized at this size chiefly by the deep, strongly compressed 
body; the narrow, well-compressed head; the small elliptical pupil; the broad, asym- 
metrically rounded caudal; and by the black spinous dorsal and ventral fins. 
Figure 11. — Menticnrhus saiatilis. From a specimen 10 millimeters long. (Drawing by Miss Nell Henry.) 
The specimens described in the foregoing paragraphs are the smallest ones taken. 
The confusion of this species with smaller specimens of the genus, identified and 
described as americanus is cpiite improbable, because of the rather pronounced 
differences among the species in specimens 10 millimeters in length, as shown by 
the descriptions and illustrations offered. Certainly some of the differences would 
be evident, also, in somewhat smaller specimens. 
Specimens 18 to 20 millimeters long . — The body has become somewhat more 
slender since a length of 10 millimeters (no specimens between 10.5 and 17 millimeters 
in length having been collected) was attained, and it remains rather strongly com- 
pressed, the greatest depth being contained in the length to the base of the caudal 
about 3.25 to 3.4 times. The head has become broader, but it remains much deeper 
than broad. The mouth is slightly oblique and nearly terminal, the snout scarcely 
projecting beyond the upper jaw. A slight knob, the beginning of the characteristic 
barbel of the adult, is evident at the symphysis of the lower jaw. Scalation is nearly 
complete, and the lateral line is developed anteriorly to about the middle of base 
of second dorsal. The caudal fin is rather broadly pointed; the longest rays, which 
are shorter than the head, are in the lower half of the fin. The general color is 
