86 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



This remarkable fish is but an occasional visitor to our shores. They are, however, often 

 exposed for sale in our markets during the months of August and September, and are highly 

 prized as food. Milbert sent them, many years since, from New-York to Cuvier, who sup- 

 poses them to be the chrysoptera of Linneus. The description of Linneus scarcely accords 

 with my specimens ; at least, I have never noticed the straight lateral line, nor the fuscous 

 spots on the fins. 



THE SQUIRREL-FISH. 



Hemulon formosum. 



PLATE XX. FIG. 59. 



P. marina capita striate-, Grunt. Catesby, Car. Vol. 2, pi. 6, fig. 1. 



Percaformosa. LlN. 12 Ed. p. 488. 



L. Ecureuil. Bon. Tab. Method, p. 135, pi. 57, fig. 221. 



La Belle Gorette. Cov. et Val. Hist, des Poiss. Vol. 5, p. 230. 



Characteristics. Bluish stripes on the cheeks. The second anal spine very robust. Length 

 twelve inches. 



Description. Body compressed ; back arched ; snout produced. Its greatest depth to its 

 length as one to four nearly. Scales large, rounded and ciliate on the free edges, reticulated 

 on the exposed surface, with 12-16 radiating parts in front. The scales are largest on the 

 sides of the body ; smaller beneath and on the head ; smaller on the base of the pectoral, 

 dorsal and caudal, extending to the very tips of the three latter fins. In an oblique series 

 from the dorsal fin, there are ten scales above and twenty-six beneath the lateral line, which 

 is concurrent with the back. Eyes 1-6 in diameter, and 1 ■ 1 apart. Mouth large ; the max- 

 illary terminating under the centre of the eye, and covered along its whole extent by the lower 

 margin of the suborbital. Preopercle with a rounded angle ; its posterior margin vertical, 

 directed backwards, serrated. Under a lens this appears to consist of numerous equal and 

 equidistant conical spines, becoming distant and smaller at the angle, effaced beneath. 

 Opercle bluntly pointed behind. Teeth in the jaws numerous, minute, equal, forming a large 

 patch in front, and reduced to a single series of distant teeth on the sides. In the upper jaw, 

 the outer row is formed of larger, conic, pointed and recurved teeth. Tongue free, smooth, 

 truncate in front. 



Dorsal fin, with its twelve spinous rays, exceedingly robust and acute, and received into a 

 sheath ; the first, second and third gradually longer ; the fourth and fifth longest, subequal : 

 every alternate ray less robust. The soft portion contains fifteen rays, as nearly as they can 

 be counted through the scaly membrane. Pectoral fins long and pointed, with one spinous 

 and sixteen branched rays ; its tips reach to the soft portion of the dorsal fin, and it has an 

 axillary plate composed of elongated scales. Ventrals with a robust spiny ray, and five 

 branched rays. Anal fin with three spinous and nine flat branched rays, covered to their tips 

 with scales ; the first is short and triangular ; the second enormously stout, longest, and Ion- 



