FISIIKS OF NEW YORK '>!-."> 



sticklebacks in structure, hut with prolonged snout and different 

 ventral fins. A single genus, with three species. 



The bony shields. dianiH eristic of this genus, are the 

 following: 



1 A narrow strip along the median line of the back behind 

 the skull (confluent neural spines). 



2 The pair of broader lateral dorsal shields are peculiar bones, 

 separated processes of the occipital bone. These shields are the 

 longest, provided anteriorly with a ridge, which is prolonged 

 and extends far backward between the muscles of the back. This 

 ridge is flexible, and does not interfere with the lateral move- 

 ments of the fish; it appears to serve as a base for the attach- 

 ment of muscular fibers. 



3 The narrow shield on the side is the postclavicle, its pos- 

 terior part being dilated and fixed to the lateral dorsal shields. 



4 The ventral shields are the interclavicles; their posterior 

 half is broadest, much pitted inferiorly; they are narrower before 

 the middle, leaving a free lanceolate space between them, and 

 are again a litt-e widened anteriorly, where they join the 

 clavicle and urohyal. These plates extend as far backward as 

 r;ie jsnkylosed vrtebrae. (After Jordan and Evermann) 



173 Fistularia tabacaria Linnaeus 

 Trumpet Fish 



Fistularia tdlmciiria LINNAEUS, Syst. Nat. eel. X, I, 312. 1758; DE KAY, N. Y. 

 Fauna, Fishes, 233, 1842; STOKER, Syu. Fish. N. A. 191, 1840; GUN- 

 THER. Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. Ill, 529, 1S61; JORDAN & GILBERT, Bull. Ifi, 

 U. S. Nat. Mus. 389, 1883; BEAN, Bull. TJ. S. F. C. VII, 14G. 1888; 19th 

 Kept. Commrs. Fish. X. Y. 273, 1890; JORDAN & EVERMANN, Bull. 47. 

 U. S. Nat. Mus. 757, 1S9G. 



Fixtularia neo'boracensis MITCHILL, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 437, 

 pi. Ill, fig. 8, 1815. 



Fistularia scrrata DE KAY, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 232, pi. 35, fig. 113, 1842. 

 Massachusetts; STORER, Hist. Fish. Mass. 140, pi. XXV. fig. 1, 1867; 

 GOODE & BEAN, Bull. Essex lust. XI, 4, 1879, Rockport Mass., not of 

 CUVIER, Regne Anini. ed. 1, 349, 1817. 



Body greatly depressed, elongate, its depth about one thirty- 

 fourth of its length to base of caudal and only abuut two thirds 

 of its width. The middle caudal rays ar- produced into a thread- 



