THE LAFAYETTE FISH. 



241 



bands running over the side of the head, and some curved bands passing along the body from 

 the back to the tail. This fish is found in the Caribbean seas. 



CLOSELY allied to these creatures is a rather remarkable fish, called scientifically Pogonias 

 chromis, and more popularly known by the name of BEARDED DRUM-FISH. 



This title is given to the fish on account of the peculiar sounds produced by the fish, which 

 are thought to bear some resemblance to the beating of a drum. The sound is apparently pro- 

 duced both while the fish is immersed and after its removal from the water, and probably on 

 account of the sound-conducting powers of the water, the hearer finds great difficulty in refer- 

 ring the strange noises to any particular spot. These fish do not seem to thrive well in fresh 

 water, as the drumming was invariably found to cease as soon as the boat in which the 

 observers were sitting had left the sea-coast and entered a river. It is a native of the North 

 American coasts, and is known to extend as far south as Florida. 



ANOTHER noisy fish is well known under the title of MAIGRE, the strange sounds produced 

 by this species having been heard from a depth of one hundred and twenty feet. 



In one instance, perhaps in many others, the novel accomplishment has led to the destruc- 

 tion of its possessors, the fishermen having been directed by the sounds to the whereabouts of 

 the utterers, and inclosed them in their nets. The flesh of the Maigre is thought to be pecu- 

 liarly excellent, the head and shoulders being .held in the greatest estimation. 



It is a rather large fish, seldom measuring less than a yard in length, and often attaining 

 nearly double those dimensions, and is in consequence extremely valuable to the fisherman. 

 Although at one time it might be captured with tolerable frequency on the coast of France, 

 and now and then on more northern European shores, it is now very scarce, having shifted its 

 localities, and being found most plentifully on the southern shores of the Mediterranean. 

 There it seems to be hatched and to remain until it attains nearly adult age, when it crosses to 

 the northern side of that sea, and is there found to be of considerable dimensions. 



THE BLACK CORVINA of the Mediterranean (Cormna nigrd) is allied to the maigre, and is 

 scarcely less celebrated than that fish for the excellence of its flesh. 



This fish is not exclusively a marine species, but frequents salt lakes and ponds, and, 

 though it hovers about the mouths of large rivers, probably for the purpose of feeding on the 

 many animal and vegetable substances which are borne by their currents into the sea, does not 

 appear to ascend their streams. In general appearance it is not unlike the maigre, and is often 

 sold in the markets under that name. 



THE SQUETEAGUE, or WEAK-FISH of North America (Cynoscion regale) is another of the 

 noisy fishes, producing dull sounds like those of a drum. It is plentiful about New York, 

 and is captured in large quantities for the table. The name of Weak-fish is attributable 

 to two causes, the one that when hooked it makes but a feeble resistance, and the other 

 that its flesh is popularly supposed to be weakening to those who habitually live upon it. 

 It is a useful species, for it not only affords delicate food, but its swimming-bladder can be 

 made into isinglass which is said to be in no way inferior to that of the sturgeon. On account 

 of its spotted skin, the French of New Orleans call it by the name of Trout. 



It is a member of the family Scicenidce, the Croakers, which number one hundred and 

 twenty-five species, included in twenty-five genera. The species are all carnivorous ; and 

 most reach a large size. 



A genus embraces what are called Fresh-water Drums. 



The BIG DRUM (Pogonias chromis) inhabits from Cape Cod to Florida. A peculiar 

 drumming sound is heard from it. Some fine ones, three feet in length, were kept in Mr. 

 Coup's Aquarium, and proved of great interest to visitors. 



LAFAYETTE FISH (Stromateus triacantJius). This is a species which made its appearance, 

 as was supposed, for the first time, in great numbers in the Long Island Sound and adjacent 

 waters, at the time Lafayette made his last visit to the country, in 1824. Its habit is to reap- 



VOL. III.-8J. 



