124 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



I have no doubt but that this species must be referred to the genus Blcpharis of Cuvier,, 

 the low spines before the dorsal and anal having escaped the attention of Dr. Akerly. It 

 appears closely allied to the B. sutor of Cuvier (Vol. 9, p. 161, pi. 253), but differs from it 

 in its outline and proportions. Its congeners are called Shoemakers (Cordonniers) among 

 the French colonists in the Antilles, in allusion to the filamentous rays, which are thought to 

 resemble wax-ends. This species must be rare on our coast, as the individual described 

 above, which was obtained from Long-Island sound, is the only one that has been observed. 



GENUS ARGYREIOSUS. Lacepede, Cuvier. 



Spines between the dorsals. Dorsal, ventral and anal rays filamentous. Body deep and 

 much compressed, as in the preceding genus. 



THE ROSTRATED ARGYREIOSE. 



Argyreiosus vomer. 



PLATE LXV. FIG. 238. 

 Zrus vomer. Linneus. 

 Argyreiosus vomer. Lacepede. 



Z. roslratus, Roslrated Dory. Mitchill, Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 384, pi. 2, fig. 1. 

 L'Abacahiia, A. vomer. Cuv. et Val. Hist, des Poiss. Vol. 9, p. 177, pi. 255. 



Characteristics. One ray of the first dorsal elongated into a filament. The anterior rays of 

 the second dorsal elongated, but not filamentous. Length three to six 

 inches. 



Description. Facial line oblique in front ; horizontal from the nape to the second dorsal fin. 

 Snout prominent, projecting. Mouth small ; lower jaw longest. Nostrils approximated, one 

 slightly above the other. Tail exceedingly slender. Skin satin-like, without scales. Lateral 

 line forming a semicircle in front. 



First dorsal fin with three protuberances in front of it ; its first ray a short spine ; the next 

 elongated into a thread half the length of the body, and sometimes twice its length ; the 

 ensuing spines very short : the first four are connected by membrane ; then follow four free 

 spines. The second dorsal, with its first ray, very short and spinous ; the next long, reaching 

 to the middle of the caudal ; the remaining twenty-two decrease rapidly to the fifth, when 

 they become short and subequal. Pectorals long, falciform. Spine of the ventrals short ; 

 the other rays filamentous, and reaching to the middle of the anal fin. Between these and the 

 anal are two small separated spines. Anal resembles the second dorsal in shape, with one 

 simple and nineteen branched rays ; the first of the branched rays elongated. Caudal deeply 

 forked. 



Color. Lustrous silvery. Dorsal and ventral filaments blackish. 



