434 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OF 



The only evidence of the existence of this species on the eastern coast is a 

 figure of a fish, taken near Charleston, executed by Mr. Richard, a Zoological 

 artist. The fish itself was afterwards lost, but not until after the figure had 

 been completed from it. On the authority of this figure, Dr. Holbrook has con- 

 sidered the species as undescribed, supposing it to be distinguishable from the 

 " Caranx fallax" by the want of the "dark color of the anterior rays of the 

 second dorsal fin." Even if the color of that fin was as light as represented 

 in the figure, it would not indicate a specific difference from that species, and 

 consequently the name must be referred, for the present at least, to such spe- 

 cies with which it agrees, according to the figure, by its scaly breast and ab- 

 sence of an opercular spot. Dr. Giinther* has referred the name to the sy- 

 nonymy of Carangus ckrysos {Caranx carangus), but as it disagrees with that 

 species in the same respect as it agrees with C. fallax, the accuracy of that 

 reference is very questionable. My personal knowledge of the artist by 

 whom the figure was made induces me to confide in the correctness of his 

 drawing. 



Carangus hippos Gill. 

 Caranx erythrurus Lac. 

 Caranx carangus pt. Cuv. et Vol. 



" defensor Delcay. 

 Carangus defensor Girard. 



This species is well distinguished among its relations by its straighter back, 

 the more obliquely convex profile, the seven spines of the dorsal fin, and the 

 spot on the inferior portion of the pectoral fin. The first notice that can be 

 positively referred to this species alone is the description and figure by Dekay 

 of the Caranx defensor. There can, however, be little doubt that Linnseus 

 had it in view in his Scomber hippos. 



The Carangus defensor is found along the eastern coast from New York 

 southwards. 



The brief notice given by Linnreus of the Scomber hippos,\ sent to him by 

 Garden from Charleston, South Carolina, is more applicable to this species 

 than to any other found on the coast. It has nevertheless been referred to 

 three others, the Decapterus punctatus, Carangus fallax and the Paratractus 

 pisquetus of the present memoir. 



The referrence to the two large front teeth of the jaw at once excludes the 

 Paractractus. 



The notice of the opercular spot forbids the reference of the name to the 

 Caranx fallax. 



With regard to its application to the Caranx carangus, or the C. defensor, 

 there is more uncertainty. The Linnsean diagnosis contains no allusion to a 

 pectoral spot, a character so prominent that it should scarcely have been left 

 unnoticed if it had existed, but as the number of dorsal spines, as given by 

 Linnaeus, corresponds with the number found in Carangus defensor, the name 

 of Carangus hippos is, therefore, accepted as the proper name for the present 

 species. 



Carangus chrysos Gill. 

 Scomber carangus Bloch. 



* Giinther, Catalogue of the Acanthopterygian Fishes, vol. ii. p. 448. 



t The description left by Linnaeus is the following : 



S. hippos pinnulis unitis, operculis postice macula nigra. 



22 



B. 7. D. 7,22. P. 22. V. 6. A.. C 30. 



40 



Habitat in Carolina, Dr. Garden. 



Dentes unica serie; aniicis 2 majoribus. Linea lateralis in medio valde declivata, 

 postice carinata subspinosa. P. dorsalis posterior rubra. Ventralis analisque luteae. 

 Spinx ante. Analem remotse. 



[Sept. 



