FISHES-PERCIDAE-BRYTTUS HUMILIS. 
21 
3. BRYTTUS HUMILIS, G r d . 
Plate VII, Figs. 9—24. 
Spec. Ciiau.—B ody sub-elliptical. Nape convex, and snout sub-conical. Posterior extremity of maxillary extending 
beyond the anterior rim of the orbit. Insertion of the ventrals situated posteriorly to the base of pectorals, and a little in 
advance of the origin of the dorsal, their tips overlapping the vent. Scales large. Reddish brown or dusky, maculated. 
Fins unicolor ; dorsal sometimes blotched. 
Syn. —Brytlus humilis, Grd. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. November, 1857. 
This species has a greater affinity with B. albulus than with B. signifer. The spinous portion 
of the dorsal resembles more, it is true, that of B. signifer , hut the structure of the head and the 
size of the scales remind us of the same traits in B. albulus. 
The snout being sub-conical and rather pointed, the mouth has room for a wider gape than in 
the case of a truncated or rounded head. The maxillary teeth are quite apparent, though 
exiguous. The posterior extremity of the maxillary hone extends to a vertical line drawn 
inwardly of the anterior rim of the orbit. The eye is sub-circular and proportionally larger 
than in B. signifer ; its diameter enters four times in the length of the side of the head. The 
latter constitutes the third of the total length, the caudal fin excluded. The preopercle and 
suborbital bones exhibit a very cavernous structure, a feature rather uncommon in the Ichthyic 
group now under consideration. The opercular flap has a tendency towards assuming a 
greater development than in either of the species of Bryttus we are, so far, acquainted with. 
The dorsal fin is higher upon its spinous portion than in B. signifer. The ventrals are of but 
moderate development, although their extremities overlap the vent, without, however, reaching 
the anal fin. On the other hand, the pectorals are slender and elongated, extending posteriorly 
beyond a vertical line intersecting the origin of the anal fin. The ventrals themselves are in¬ 
serted a little in advance of the origin of the dorsal. 
Br. V: V ; DX or XI, 10; A III, 9 ; C 3, 1, 8, 7, 1, 2 ; V I, 5 ; P 12. 
The enlarged figures of the scales speak for themselves ; wherever the pectinations of their 
posterior margin are missing, it is owing to their exiguity or else their deciduous character. 
Their anterior margin is rather abruptly truncated. 
The color is reddish brown or dusky, mostentimes maculated, or rather spotted with black, 
especially upon the posterior half of the body (fig. 13). The fins are unicolor. Fig. 21 ought 
to exhibit a dorsal spot, which may be seen upon the specimen. 
References to the figures. —Plate VII, fig. 9, represents size of life, Bryttus humilis, caught 
near Rock Mary. Fig. 10, a dorsal scale. Fig. 11, a scale from the lateral line. Fig. 12, 
a scale from the abdominal region. 
Fig. 13 represents a specimen, size of life, from Sugar Loaf creek, Arkansas. Fig. 14 is a 
dorsal scale of the same. Fig. 15, a scale from the lateral line. Fig. 16, a scale from the 
abdominal region. 
Figs. 17 and 21, immature specimens, size of life, from Sugar Loaf creek also. Figs. 18 
and 22, scales from the dorsal region. Figs. 19 and 23, scales from the lateral line. Figs. 
20 and 24, scales from the abdominal region. 
