68 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
(of specimens taken in black vegetable debris) almost uniform dark brown, with a 
slight indication of a broad vertical bar, darker than the ground color, on the side 
under the spinous dorsal, and another one under the middle of the base of the second 
dorsal. The spinous dorsal and the ventral fins are black; the pectoral hns are 
colorless; the second dorsal and anal have at least a partly black base, the rest of 
these hns being colorless; and the caudal is colorless, except for a black blotch on 
the base (fig. 12). 
The present species is deeper than either of the other two local species of the 
genus. Its elliptical pupil and rather bluntly pointed tail, which is shorter than the 
head, at once distinguish this species from americanus. The dark cross bars on the 
body, the black spinous dorsal, and the black ventral hns separate it from littoralis. 
Specimens 80 to 35 millimeters long. — The body has continued to become more 
elongate and less strongly compressed. The depth remains proportionately a little 
greater than in the adult, it being contained in the length to the base of caudal 3.5 
to 3.65 times. The mouth is nearly horizontal, inferior, and the snout projects 
moderately beyond it. The mandibular barbel is short, but plainly evident, and 
scalation is complete. None of the dorsal spines are produced, the longest reaching 
Figure 12 . — Menticirrhus saxatilis. From a specimen 20 millimeters long. (Drawing by Miss Nell Henry.) 
opposite the base of the hrst or second ray of the second dorsal when dehexed. The 
caudal hn is slightly angular, and the longest rays, which are in the lower half of the 
fin, are notably shorter than the head. The pectoral hns scarcely reach the tips of 
the ventrals, and the latter do not quite reach the vent. The body is quite fully 
pigmented; the ground color is silvery, brightest on lower parts of body, overlaid 
almost everywhere with dark brown dots. Dark bars are evident in the majority 
of the specimens at hand; the hrst one is on the posterior part of the head and runs 
obliquely downward and backward on the opercle; the second one crosses the nape 
and is parallel with the hrst one; the third one lies under the spinous dorsal and 
bends forward slightly, nearly or quite joining the second one on the middle of the side. 
The two together form a V, which is a recognition mark in the adult. Posterior 
to the bars described are dark blotches suggestive of bars. The spinous dorsal and 
the ventrals remain almost wholly black; the second dorsal and anal are black at 
the base or at least are dotted with black; the caudal hn bears two irregular dark 
spots on its base and is plain ti^nslucent elsewhere; and the pectoral hns are plain, 
more or less dotted with black at the base (hg. 13). 
This species, like littoralis, continues to differ from americanus in the eliptical 
pupil and the short angulate caudal hn. It differs from both the other local species 
