FISHES OF NEW YORK 617 



Four teeth iu each side' of lower jaw. 



Color olive gray or brownish; a faint blue spot in the center 

 of each of most of the scales; nostril in a yellow spot; boun- 

 daries of upper scutes blackish, of lower bluish; outlines of 

 various scutes behind gill opening black, forming a dusky area, 

 specially distinct in the young; a similar smaller dusky area 

 on side on level of eye; iris yellow; fins all pale olive; vent ye\- 

 low; belly light olive, outlines of the scutes bluish; base of 

 pectorals yellowish. 



The truukfish reaches the length of about 1 foot; it is com- 

 mon in the West Indies, the Bermudas, and the eastern part of 

 the Gulf of Mexico, occasionally migrating northward in sum- 

 mer under gulf weed as far as Cape Cod. Dr Storer had it from 

 Holmes Hole, on Marthas Vineyard. Dr H. M. Smith records 

 no adults from the vicinity of Woods Hole Mass, but young indi- 

 viduals are not uncommon and are taken every year. They are 

 found from July to October. On quiet days they are seen, singly 

 or in scattered bodies, in the eelgrass about the wharves. The 

 largest specimens secured by Dr Smith are 1 inch long, and the 

 smallest { inch. They are taken under the gulf w T eed, in sur- 

 face tow nets and in shore seines. Several dozen have been 

 obtained at one seine haul. 



De Kay knew the fish only from the description by Dr Storer. 



The only individual taken in Gravesend bay was found in 

 August 1897; it was f inch long. The fish lived a very short 

 time in a balanced jar, though it appeared to feed freely upon 

 minced hard clam. 



Suborder GYMXODOXTES 

 Family XETRAODONTIDAE 



Puffers 

 Genus I.AGOCUPHAL.US Swainson 



Body comparatively elongate; skin smooth or variously 

 prickly, the prickles most developed on the abdomen; abdomen 

 capable of very great inflation. Dorsal and anal rather long, 

 falcate, of 12 to 15 rays each; caudal lunate. Nostril without 

 distinct papilla, each one with two distinct openings; mucous 



