48 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



This is a very rare species. In the course of twenty years, I have not met with more than 

 six or eight individuals. The last one I examined, had its stomach completely distended with 

 remains of crabs, among which I detected the Crangon septem-spinosus and Platyonichus 

 ocellatus. It is evident from the phrase of Linneus, " digito longior," that he described from 

 a young individual. Among the drawings of Dr. Holbrook of the fishes of Carolina, I notice 

 this, which must be considered as a southern species, occasionally only reaching these lati- 

 tudes. It occurs, however, still farther north at the island of Nantucket. 



THE SPINOUS GURNARD. 



Prionotcs tribulus. 

 plate lxx. fig. 226. 



he Prionote chaussetrape, Prionotus tribulus. Cuv. et Val. Hist, des Poiss. Vol. 4, p. 98, pi. 74. 



Characteristics. Pectoral reaching the end of the anal fin. All the spines of the head acute, 

 and flattened like sword-blades. Length 8 inches. 



Description. Body shaped as in the preceding. A small spine in the centre of the radia- 

 tions on the large suborbital. All the spines of the head, and especially those on the posterior 

 parts of the orbits, and on the point of the surscapulary bone, more distinct than in the pre- 

 ceding, and are sharpened and compressed like sword-blades ; the preopercular and clavicular 

 spines are, moreover, broader and more acute : this is most obvious in the males. The band 

 of palatine teeth exceedingly narrow. The pectoral fin equals almost the length of the body, 

 reaching to or even beyond the end of the anal fin. 



Color, much as in the preceding. The first dorsal fin has a black spot between the fourth 

 and sixth ray. The second with two black spots along its base ; one from the fifth to the 

 seventh, the other between the fourth and sixth ray. Pectorals blackish, more especially on 

 the interior, where the upper border is whitish. Body brownish above, lighter beneath. 



Length, 6-0-8-0. 



Fin rays, D. 10.13; P. 13 + 3 ; V. 1 .5 ; A. 12 ; C. 11. 



Cuvier states that he has received numerous specimens of this species from New- York. I 

 have never seen but very small individuals, which I had confounded with P. lineatus. It 

 ranges from New-York to Charleston, and is probably found in the intertropical seas. 



(EXTRALIMITAL.) 



P. punctatus. (Cuv. et Val. Vol. 4, p. 93.) Two small spines on each side of the snout. Fins 

 spotted. Length 12 inches. Antilles. 



