434 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



of the head. Scutes 20; ventral fins minute; dorsal ami anal 

 very low, specially in adult, the long rays disappearing very 

 early; pectorals falcate, about as long as head. D. VIII-I, 21 or 

 22; A.II-I, 19 or 20. 



Color above plumbeous or greenish; sides and lower parts 

 lustrous silvery; membrane of second dorsal light yellow at base r . 

 the membrane with minute black points; pectorals greenish,, 

 tinged with dusky; young with a black blotch, smaller than the- 

 eye, at the beginning of the straight part of the lateral line. 



The horsefish inhabits the seas of tropical America, ranging 

 from Maine to Brazil and from Lower California to Peru. In 

 summer it is sometimes abundant as far north as Saco Me., and 

 at Woods Hole Mass., in Buzzards bay and Vineyard sound, but 

 sometimes it is rare in those waters. When present, it appears 

 in August and remains till September. The fish is also reported 

 in western Africa. Mitchill calls it the bristly dory. He records 

 it from New York bay. De Kay states that it appears in New 

 York waters in July and August, and that it is esteemed for 

 food. An individual was brought from Gravesend bay Oct. 21,. 

 1896, and a young example, known there as dollarfish, was re- 

 ceived from the same locality Oct. 22, 1896. 



The species reaches the length of 1 foot. It is esteemed an 

 excellent article of food. It finds its way to New York in con- 

 siderable numbers every year but is rarely seen in other markets. 

 Nothing is known of its breeding habits. 



The horsefish has several additional common names: sunfish, 

 jorobado (Cuba), blunt-nosed shiner, pug-nosed shiner, and hump- 

 backed butterfish. 



Genus SELENE Lacep6de 



Body very closely compressed and much elevated, the profile 

 very oblique or nearly vertical; edges of body everywhere trench- 

 ant, specially anteriorly; head short and very deep, the opercle 

 very short, and the preorbital extremely deep; an abrupt angle 

 at the occipital region; mouth rather small; premaxillaries pro- 

 tractile, fitting into a notch between the bases of the maxillaries; 

 maxillaries broad, each with a supplemental bone; tongue nar- 



