NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 119 



longer than the spines, and about twice as long as the last ; the outline of the 

 fin is slightly emarginated. 



The first ray of the pectoral fin is, as usual, articulated but simple ; the 

 third is longest and branched, and equals the base of the second dorsal. 



The ventrals are about as long as the pectorals ; the length of the spine is 

 equal to two-thirds of that of the first or second branched rays. 



The radial formula is as follows : 



D ix I, 12 ; A hi, 10 ; C 4, I, 8, 7, I, 2 ; P 3, 14 ; V i, 5. 



The scales are of about the same size as in the Morone americana, the 

 lateral line running through about fifty, besides the smaller ones at the base 

 of the caudal fin ; at the region of its greatest height, there are about nineteen 

 rows, of which about seven are above the lateral line and eleven beneath. The 

 relative proportions on the different parts of the body are almost nearly the 

 same as in that species, the chief difference existing on the front of the back, 

 where the exposed portions of the disc are higher and narrower than in M. 

 americana. On the cheeks from the orbit to the angles, there are about 

 seven oblique rows. 



The specimens preserved in spirits have a bright brazen color, tinged on the 

 back with olivaceous. Along the sides are seven very distinct longitudinal 

 black bands, through the fourth of which the lateral line runs for its entire 

 length. The continuity of the bands below the lateral line is interrupted at 

 the posterior half of their length, and they there alternate with their anterior 

 parts. 



The dorsal fins are tinged with purple, and the margin of the spinous one is 

 dark. The anal is of a darker purple towards its anterior angle. The caudal, 

 especially posteriorly and at its middle, is purple. The rays of the pectoral 

 and ventral fins are yellowish, while the membrane of the former is hyaline, 

 and of the latter sometimes minutely dotted. 



This species, as will be observed by reference to the synonymy, has been 

 described by Dr. Charles Girard, under the name of Labrax chrysops Grd. 

 (Perca or Lepibema chrysops Raf.), to which is also referred as a syno- 

 nyme, the Labrax multilineatus of Cuvier and Valenciennes, Kirtland, 

 Dekay and Storer. From that species, it is very distinct, and even belongs to 

 a different genus. Cuvier described the ground color as a greenish-gray 

 on the back and silvery on the belly. This is not the color of Morone inter- 

 rupta, and that species must be therefore distinct from Labrax multi- 

 lineatus, nor can it be the Perca chrysops of Rafinesque, which is 

 said to be " silvery with five longitudinal brownish stripes on each side," and 

 have the "head brown above." This description, though erroneous in most 

 respects, is as accurate as Rafinesque's generally are, and agrees sufficiently 

 well with Kirtland's Labrax multilineatus, which is doubtless identical 

 with the Cuvieran species. Even such an observer as Rafinesque would have 

 noticed the deep brazen hue of Morone interrupta, and would not have 

 overlooked two of the seven very distinct black bands that run along the sides. 



Dr. Girard has stated that there are but six branchiostegal rays in his species, 

 but I am able to say, from an examination of the specimens used by Dr. Girard 

 himself, for description, that it agrees with all allied species, in having the 

 normal number of seven, and which are developed as in Morone americana. 



There are preserved in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, three 

 specimens of the Morone interrupta, one of which was obtained by 

 Lieutenant Couch, at New Orleans, and two larger ones were found at St. Louis, 

 Missouri, by Dr. George Engelman. The small specimen from New Orleans 

 differs from the two Missouri specimens by the larger second spine of the anal 

 fin, but in every other respect they are similar. 



I860.] 



