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Opercles naked, except above. Scales on body rather small, in about GO 

 transverse series, those on ventral region reduced in size. Lateral line 

 continuous, abruptly decurved opposite the end of the soft dorsal. 

 Dorsal fin long, low, continuous, the spinous part much the longer, 

 with about 1C low, strong, subequal spines, each with a small cuta- 

 neous appendage at tip; soft dorsal higher than spiuous; anal similar 

 to soft dorsal, with three stout, graduated spines; pectorals broad and 

 rather short; caudal short, truncate, with rounded angles; the soft 

 parts of the vertical fins with the membranes somewhat scaly; veutrals 

 conspicuously behind pectorals. Brauchiostegals 5. Gill-rakers very 

 short and feeble; gill-membranes somewhat connected, free from the 

 isthmus. A single species known. (A latiuization of the vernacular 

 name "Tautog," which is of Indian origin.) 



942. T. oiiifis (L.) Gthr. Tauiog ; Black-fish; Oyster-fish. 



/ ; Blackish; young greenish, with about three pairs of irregular chain- 

 like bars, the sides sometimes reticulated; chin white. Pectorals short, 

 rqunded, not reaching the tips of the short ventrals. Head 3 in length ; 

 depth 3. D. XVI, 10; A. Ill, 8; Lat. 1. 60. Maine to South Carolina; 

 a common food-fish. 



(Labrus onitis Linn. Syst. Nat.; Giinther, iv, 88: Taidoga amerlcana Storer, Hist. 

 Fish. Mass. -J76.) 



31?. L,ACIINOL;EUHJS Cuvier & Valenciennes. 



Hog-fishes. 



(Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. xiii, 274, 1839: type Laehnolcemus aigula C. & V.= 

 Labrua falcatus L.) 



Body strongly compressed, the back sharp and elevated, the profile 

 long and steep. Snout sharp. Mouth low, horizontal, the jaws narrow; 

 premaxillary slipping under the membranaceous edge of tin- very broad 

 preorbital, which is twice the depth of the eye. Teeth in front prom- 

 inent, canine like, in a single series; no posterior canines. Cheeks and 

 opercles with imbricate scales. Scales of moderate si/.e. thin, adherent. 

 Lateral line complete. Dorsal with fourteen spines, the tirst three 

 strong. I'alcate, produced in long streamers in the adult, the mem- 

 branes between these, spines very low, the filamentous tips longer than 

 the head; other spines all low, gradually shorter to the eleventh; sec- 

 ond dorsal and anal much produced; caudal lobes falcate; third anal 

 spine, strong; pectorals and vent rals short. One species known. (/^>r/, 

 velvety; /:/*<)?, throat, the pharyugeal bones being only partly provided 

 with teeth, and the rest of their surface covered with a velvety mem- 

 brane.) 



