110 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



Pectoral fins two inches and a half long, small, broad, obtusely pointed, with the third and 

 fourth rays longest. Vent thirteen inches distant from the tip of the lower jaw. About one 

 hundred and twenty spines were enumerated posterior to the vent, and on the under side of 

 the tail, sensible only to the touch behind : they occupy the place of the anal fin. 



Color. The whole surface of the head and body of a lustrous silvery hue, with iride- 

 scent hues on the opercles. Eyes with yellow hides. Lateral line greenish yellow. Pec- 

 torals light yellowish at the base ; minute, punctate, and brownish at the tips. Teeth reddish 

 brown at the base, lighter at the tips. Dorsal light yellow, obscurely bordered above with 

 dusky. 



Length, 38-0. Of head, 5"5. 

 Fin rays, D. 133; P. 12. 



This is known here by the fishermen under the name of Ribbon-fish. At Jamaica, it is 

 called Sword-fish. It is not common, but of fifteen or twenty which I have examined, the 

 above, taken from the ocean near Sandyhook, in August, was the largest. 



It has an extensive geographic range. It is most numerous in the Caribbean sea, and 

 more especially about Porto Rico. D'Orbigny found it near Montevideo, in 35° south latitude ; 

 and Dr. Pickering informs me that he has seen it in Narraganset bay, on the coast of Massa- 

 chusetts, in 42° north latitude. It has also been found on the coast of Africa ; but whether 

 it has ever appeared on the coast of Europe, is doubtful. The description of a Trichiure 

 by Mr. Hoy in the Linnean Transactions of London, applies to the Trichiurus argenteus of 

 Cuvier and Valenciennes, a species which has figured in the writings of naturalists under 

 five different generic and eight specific names. Among the drawings of Dr. Holbrook, there 

 is a figure of a Hair-tail which seems to announce a new species : there is a short triangular 

 dorsal in front of the long dorsal, or at least it is deeply divided. 



