THE RED DRUM. 
THE RED DRUM. 
Long as a salmon, if not so stout, 
And springy and swift as a mountain trout, 
Innes Randolph, The Drum-fish. 
nPHE family Sciccnidoe is distributed along the coasts of temperate and 
tropical countries,, the world over, though most abundant in the Western 
Atlantic, the Eastern Pacific and Indian Oceans, and in the Mediter¬ 
ranean Sea. In general form many of the members of this family are not 
unlike the salmon, and are sometimes mistaken for it. They are, how¬ 
ever, true spiny-rayed fish, and they may be distinguished from all others 
by the presence of the comparatively short, spiny, dorsal fin, and a very 
long, soft-rayed fin upon the posterior portion of the back. 
Many of them are ground-loving species, are provided with barbels by 
which they feel their way over the bottom, and with strong, pavement¬ 
like teeth for crushing shell-fish and strong shelled crustaceans. To this 
group belong the fresh-water Drum, the King-fish, and others. 
Another group, typified by the Squeteagues, are without the barbels and 
possess long, sharp teeth, being rapid swimmers, and voracious surface 
feeders. 
Many of the species are most abundant about the mouths of rivers, and 
there are several species, such as the fresh-water Drum, HaploidonotiLs~ 
firunniens , of the Mississippi Valley, which are found only in fresh water. 
Nearly all have the power of uttering loud sounds. This, as has been 
demonstrated by M. Dufosse, is accomplished through a peculiar structure 
of the air-bladder. 
