FISHES-SCIAENIDAE-UMBRINA UNDULATA. 
101 
UMBRINA, Cuv. 
Gen. Char. —Body elongated and fusiform. Head moderate, subconical; snout thiekish, protruding over the lower jaw, at 
the symphysis of which a barbel may be seen. Mouth small* teeth velvet-like, exiguous. Palate toothless. Opercular appa¬ 
ratus smooth. Branchial apertures continuous under the throat. Two dorsal fins contiguous at their base; anterior one 
spinous. Anal fin provided anteriorly with one or two small spines. Posterior margin of caudal fin subtruncated. Insertion 
of ventrals situated posteriorly to the base of pectorals. Upper surface of head, cheeks, and opercular apparatus scaly. Scales 
of body of moderate size. 
Syn. — Umbrina, Cuv. Regn. anim. II, 1817 ; 2d ed. II, 1829 ; & ed. illustr. Poiss. 82.—Cuv. & Val. Hist. nat. des Poiss. 
V, 1830, 171.— DeKay, New Y. Fauna, IV, 1842, 78.— Storer, Synops. 1846, 71. 
The “ king fish” of the New Yorkers and the u whiting” of the South Carolinians belong to 
the present genus. Several other species inhabit the Gulf of Mexico, one of which is figured in 
the report to the United States and Mexican boundary commission. 
UMBRINA UNDULATA, Grd. 
Spec. Char! —Mouth small ; posterior extremity of maxillary extending to a vertical line drawn midway between the anterior 
rim of the orbit and the pupil. Origin of ventrals situated opposite the anterior margin of the first dorsal. Extremities of 
pectorals not extending as far as the tips of ventrals, which do not reach the vent. Anal fin small and narrow. Scales mod¬ 
erate. Color ash-grey, silvery above, each scale bearing a small greyish-brown spot, giving rise to oblique and undulating- 
lines. Beneath, metallic yellow, unicolor. 
Syn. — Umbrina undulata, Grd. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 1854, 148. 
The greatest length of the specimen described is six inches, the head being comprised in it 
four times and a half. It is more than probable that the species attains a larger size. The 
body is much compressed, especially the dorsal region, properly so-called. The upper surface 
of the head is rounded ; the snout prominent and subconical, protruding considerably beyond 
the lower jaw. The mouth is rather small, and the posterior extremity of the maxillary 
extends to a vertical line, which would be drawn midway between the anterior rim of the orbit 
and the pupil. The eye is subelliptical, its horizontal diameter being contained about five 
times in the length of the side of the head. The first dorsal fin is subtriangular ; its anterior 
margin is situated a little posteriorly to the base of the pectorals. The first spine is a mere 
rudiment; the second spine is nearly as high as the third, which is the highest; the fourth is 
nearly equal to the second. A small spine is placed between the two dorsal fins, and a similar 
one at the anterior margin of the second dorsal, which is higher anteriorly than posteriorly, 
and twice and a half as long as the first. The caudal is posteriorly subtruncated, constituting 
about the sixth of the total length. The anal is about one third deeper than long ; upon its 
base as deep as the first dorsal is high. The posterior extremities of the pectorals extend to a 
vertical line, which would intersect the anterior margin of the second dorsal. The tips of the 
pectorals extend beyond the extremities of the ventrals, without, however, reaching the vent. 
Br. IV: IV ; D XI, 25 ; A I, 9 ; 0 3,1,7,7,1,2; Y I, 5; P 20. 
The scales are of medium size, finely ciliated posteriorly, with radiating furrows upon their 
anterior section only. Their general form is obliquely subquadrangular or rhomboid, deeper 
than long. The lateral line is slightly arched under the first dorsal fin, otherwise parallel to 
the dorsal outline. 
The upper regions are ash-grey, silvery above, with a small greyish-brown spot upon each 
scale, constituting oblique and undulating lines. Beneath, the color is of a uniform metallic 
yellow. 
