POLYNEMIDAE. 
Polydactylus virginicus (Linnaeus). 
Head 3+ to 3 2/3; depth 3 to 3; D. VIII - I, 18, is5 
A. III, 13, 1; scales 59 to 68 in lateral line to caudal 
base and 6 to 8 scales above lateral line to spinous dor- 
sal origin, 7 to 9 to soft dorsal origin, 10 to 15 below 
to spinous anal origins 31 to 58 predorsal scales; snout 
5 1/6 in head, 6 in young; eye 4 1/3 to 4%, 3g in young; 
maxillary 21/5 to 24, 21/10 in young; interorbiteal 3 2/3 to 
4 2/5, 3% in young. 
Body elongstely ovoid, strongly compressed; least depth 
of caudal peduncle 1 7/8 to 2 in its length or 1 5/6 to 2 1/8 
in head. Head width 2 1/10 to 21/5 its length, 2% in young. 
Snout obtuse, convex, length in profile 2% its width, about 3/5 
in young. Eye advanced, hind pupil edge about first third in 
head, covered by broad adipose- eyelid extending back little 
beyond middle in head length, Mouth moderate, upper jaw tip 
ahout opposite hind nostril, lower jaw included, Maxillary 
back beyond eye and eye about 3/5 its diameter; expansion 
12 to 1 7/8 in eye. Bands of minute villiform teeth in jaws, 
on vomer and paletines. Nostrils together, moderate, closer 
to eye than snout tip as seen in profile. Interorbital con- 
vex, Hind preopercle edge denticulate, denticles larger 
below or lowest largest; corner a cutaneous round flap; 
membranous suprascapula with strong short spine, 
