118 NEW- YORK FAUNA. 



GENUS PALINURUS. 



Preopercle serrated, with spines on its margin. Opercle with one or more flat spines, more 

 or less distinctly serrated beneath. Anal with one or more spines in front. Teeth small, 

 pointed, subequal. Body compressed, oblong. The anterior portion of the single dorsal 

 spinous. 



Obs. I propose this genus for the reception of two species from our coast, which, although 

 allied in many particulars to the genus Trachinotus, differ from it in others. The anterior 

 dorsal spines are certainly not free, and the pointed and serrated gill-covers indicate a still 

 farther removal from that genus. The name has been applied, as I am aware, to a genus of 

 Crustacea, but is otherwise unobjectionable. Should this genus be adopted, a question arises 

 whether it should remain in this family. As the characters of Scombridce now stand, it can- 

 not, but they will doubtless be revised by competent hands. 



THE BLACK PILOT. 



Palinurus pekciformis. 



PLATE XXIV. FIG. 25. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Rudder-fish, or Perch Coryphene. Mitchill, Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, pi. 16, fig. 7. (No description.) 

 Coryphtzna perciformis. Id. Am. Monthly Magazine, Vol. 2, p. 244. 

 Trachinotus argentcus. Storer, Mass. Report, p. 55. (Non Cuv.) 



Characteristics. Bronze-black. The dorsal spines much lower than the soft rays. Length 

 nine inches. 



Description. Body oblong, elliptical, compressed. Height nearly equal to one-third of its 

 length. Scales moderate, rather small, subquadrate, the free margins entire ; free surface 

 concentrically striate, plaited behind. They ascend high up on the membrane of the vertical 

 fins, where they become very minute. The lateral line, composed of a series of short tubes, 

 commences at the upper angle of the branchial aperture, is arched and nearly concurrent with 

 the back, from which it is little distant. The scales containing the lateral line are notched 

 behind, the tube being elevated in front. Head declivous, somewhat rounded. In cabinet 

 specimens this part is subcarinate, and the supraorbital prominent, with from four to six dis- 

 tinct elevations. Length of the head to the margin of the opercle, 2 • 2. Snout blunt. Eyes 

 large, prominent, - 6 in diameter. Nostrils double ; the posterior very large, rounded. Opercle 

 with a pointed membrane, and a flat acute membranous spine with delicate denticulations along 

 its rounded angle, becoming gradually effaced beneath ; above this pointed membrane is a deep 

 emargination, with a blunt spine above. Preopercle with from thirty to thirty-five subequal 

 short spines, forming distinct ridges within the margin, and giving this bone on its outer surface 

 a plaited and radiated appearance. Jaws subequal, the lower shutting within the upper ; with 

 a single series of small, equidistant, subequal, conic, acute, slightly recurved teeth in both. 



