214 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
rr. Tipper jaw with narrow band of teeth, those of outer row more or less enlarged: no distinct canines. . .Corvula, 97 
pp. Preopercle with its bony margin armed with sharp teeth or serrae. 
s. Preopercle with its lowermost spine directed abruptly downward; soft dorsal and anal fin moderately scaly; lower 
jaw without canines; second anal spine moderate or large Bairdtella, 98 
oo. Head very broad above, interorbital space flattish, excessively cavernous, septa reduced to thin partitions; soft 
dorsal and anal fin usually densely scaly; second spine of dorsal usually thickened Stellifek 
klc. Gillrakers comparatively short and thick, usually not longer than posterior nostril; anal fin inserted farther 
forward; snout above lower jaw with large pores, and with two more or less distinct slits on its edge, these- 
sometimes obsolete; preorbital more or less broad; mouth more or less inferior. 
t. Preopercle with its bony margin armed with strong persistent spines which do not disappear with age; caudal 
fin not lunate, middle rays longer than lower Ophioscion, 99 
It. Preopercle with its bony margin serrate in young, becoming entire with age; caudal fin truncate or lunate, 
middle rays not longest; slits and pores of upper jaws well developed Sci^nops 
ii. Teeth very small, subequal, those in lower jaw wanting or deciduous; lower pharyngeals rather broad, with 
paved teeth; mouth small, inferior; snout as in Scisena; preopercle entire; anal fin long, with about 12 soft rays; 
gillrakers shortish, rather slender Leiostomus 
gg. Lower jaw with one or more barbels, either at symphysis or o:i the rami; snout with slits and pores as in Scisena; 
lower jaw included; preorbital broad; lower teeth in villiform bands; gillrakers more or less short. 
u. Pseudobranchire well developed; pectoral fin not elongate. 
vv. Lower jaw with slender barbels, usually several in number. 
w. Barbels mostly in a tuft at symphysis of lower jaw; mouth very small, inferior; gillrakers minute, thickish; dorsal 
spines x or xi; preopercle sharply but finely serrate; preorbital turgid and cavernous, more or less translucent; 
caudal fin rhombic. (Fluviatile species) Pachypops 
ww. Barbels chiefly lateral, along rami of lower jaw, usually none at symphysis; lower pharyngeals narrow, with 
sharp teeth; preopercle with its bony margin armed with strong teeth; D. x or xi; gillrakers short, thickish. 
IIICROPOGON, 100 
vv. Lower jaw with a single thickish barbel at its tip. 
x. Air-bladder large; anal spines 2; back more or less elevated; preopercle with its bony margin crenate or serrate; 
pectoral short, shorter than ventrals. (Free-swimming species) Umbrina,101 
xx. Air-bladder none; anal spine single, weak; back not elevated; preopercle with its membranaceous edge crenulate; 
pectoral fins long, longer than ventrals. (Bottom fishes.) Menticirrhus, 102 
uu. Pseudobranchite obsolete; body long and low; caudal pointed; pectoral fin elongate; preopercle without bony, 
serratures. 
y. Mandible without barbels along inner edge. Chin with two short barbels; soft dorsal with 30 to 40 rays. 
LoNCHrup.i 
Aplodinotinie: 
ff. Lower pharyngeals very large, completely united, covered with coarse, blunt, paved teeth; lower jaw included: 
snout with slits and pores, as in Scixna; gillrakers rather short. 
z. Lower jaw with numerous barbels along inner edge of rami; preopercle nearly entire Pogonias 
Equitin^:: 
ee. Dorsal spines close together, first spine attached to first interneural, and from 5 to 12 of spine-bearing interneurals 
wedged in between high occipital crest and neural spine of second vertebra on the one hand, and that of third 
vertebra on the other; occipital crest much elevated; soft dorsal very long, of 36 to 55 rays Eques, 103 
Genus 94. CYNOSCION Gill. Weak-fishes. 
Body elongate, little compressed, back not elevated. Head conical, rather pointed; mouth very 
large, terminal, not very oblique, lower jaw projecting, symphysis produced, angle at base of maxillary 
not prominent. Maxillary very broad. Teeth sharp, not closely set, in rather narrow bands; tip of 
lower jaw without canines; upper jaw with 2 long canines, 1 of which is sometimes obsolete; canines 
tapering from base to tip; lateral teeth of lower jaw larger than anterior. Preopercle with its mem- 
branaceous edge serrulate, bone entire. Lower pharyngeal bones separate, their teeth all pointed. 
Gillrakers strong, rather long. Vertebrae about 14 + 10 (instead of 10 -j- 14 as in Scisenoids generally) . 
Pseudobran chile well developed; dorsal spines slender, tins closely contiguous; anal spines 1 or 2, very 
feeble, soft rays 7 to 13; second dorsal long and low, more than twice length of anal; ventrals inserted 
below pectorals, pubic bone long and strong; caudal tin subtruncate or lunate. 
Large fishes, chiefly of the Waters of America, closely related to the Old World genus Otolithus, 
from which they are distinguished by the absence of canines in the lower jaw. All of them rank high 
as food-fishes; the flesh is rich, but in some species tender and easily torn; hence the popular nank 
weak-fishes. The number of species of this genus known from American waters is about 20, among 
which are some of our most important food-fishes, including the common squeteague ( Cynosdon 
regalis ) , which, though not exceeding 5 or 6 pounds in weight, is said occasionally to attain a weight 
of 30 pounds, and the spotted squeteague ( C. maculatum ) , somewhat smaller and ranging further south. 
In the Gulf of California occurs another species (C. mcicdonaldi ) , which attains the enormous size of 
more than 170 pounds. Only one species of this genus is at present known from Porto Rico. 
