FAMILY SCIENIDiE — HEMULON. 85 



tinguish the back and sides. Eyes pale, with a dash of dark across them. Pectorals faintly 

 yellow, the rest pale. 



Length, 6*0. Depth, 2'0. 



Fin rays, 12.15; P. 18 ; V. 1.5 ; A. 3.12; C. 17. 



This is a rare fish, but occasionally appearing, as I am informed, in our harbor in consi- 

 derable numbers. It is, like its congeners, a southern fish, our coast being probably the 

 extreme northern limits of its range. It is a very savory food. It is somewhat allied to the 

 H.formosum, but does not agree with any of the twelve species enumerated by Cuvier and 

 Valenciennes. 



THE YELLOW-FINNED RED-MOUTH. 



Hemulon chrysopteron. 

 plate vii. fig. 22. 



Margate Fish. Catesby, Car. Vol. 2, pi. 2, fig. 1. 



Perca chrysoptera. Lin. 12 Ed. p. 485. 



La Gorette a mgeoires fauves. Cov. et Val. Hist. Poiss. Vol. 5, p. 240. 



Characteristics. Head and body uniform color, with darkish stripes on the head. Dorsal 

 with thirteen spinous, and anal with nine soft rays. Length one foot. 



Description. In its general shape and size, it resembles the Big Porgee (Pagrus argyrops) ; 

 but the facial profile is longer and more sloping, producing an elongated snout. Scales as in 

 the preceding species. Lateral line distinct (but caricatured in the plate). Preopercle ser- 

 rate on its ascending and lower margin ; the angle rounded. The two flat points on the opercle, 

 which are sometimes included in the generic character, almost obsolete. Gape enormous. 

 Lips large and fleshy. A round cavity in the symphisis of the lower jaw ; and anterior to it, 

 two small pores. On the sides of the lower jaw, a single series of sharp distant equal teeth, 

 card-like in front ; in the upper jaw, in a single series, with a patch in front. Pharynx with 

 paved teeth. Tongue distinct, rounded. 



The dorsal fin contained in a scaly sheath ; the fourth and fifth spines longest ; the last 

 spine is longer than the one preceding ; the soft part not as high as the spinous part. Pecto- 

 ral fins reach the antepenultimate spinous dorsal ray. A slight accessory plate beneath the 

 ventrals. Caudal forked. 



Color, of the head and body silvery, bronzed darker on the back, with occasionally obscure 

 dark stripes across it. The pectorals, dorsal and caudal fins of a brown horn-color ; the anal 

 and ventral fins tinged with yellow and orange. Base of the lower jaw within and without of 

 a beautiful vermilion. Tongue and fauces bright red. 



Length, ll'0-12-0. Depth, 3-5-4-0. 



Fin rays, D. 12.15; P. 17; V. 1.5; A. 3.9; C. 15 §. 



