268 NEW- YORK FAUNA. 



posterior largest. Upper jaw broad and rounded, entire and longer than the lower, which is 

 received into it. An elongated bony process arising from the symphisis of the chin, and ex- 

 tending backwards 0"8 between the limbs of the lower jaw. Minute card-like teeth in many 

 series on the labials, maxillaries, tongue and palatines. 



The dorsal fin arises nearly midway between the end of the snout and the fork of the tail, 

 its longest anterior ray equal to the length of its base : first ray short, the three following 

 successively shorter, the fifth and sixth longest and subequal, thence gradually decreasing to 

 the sixteenth ray subequal to the twenty-first inclusive, the last three gradually increasing in 

 length ; the margin is hence deeply excavated behind, and gives a subtriangular shape to this 

 fin ; its base is covered on each side, for some distance up, with a thick membrane. Pecto- 

 rals broad, connected to its long pointed axillary scale by a membrane. Ventrals broad, tri- 

 angular, distant ; its origin is slightly in advance of the commencement of the dorsal fin, and 

 it is equidistant between the pectoral and anal ; its axillary plate is longer than the posterior 

 rays ; the first ray short and subspinous, the second long and simple. Anal deeply concave 

 on its margin, with the same thickened membrane along its base, which we have noticed on 

 the dorsal ; the first ray exceedingly minute ; the second, third and fourth successively longer ; 

 twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth rays shorter than those which follow. Caudal widely forked ; 

 its tips as long as the head, with six accessory rays on each side, the first somewhat produced 

 and flattened on the upper and under edges of the tail. To me this spine appears to be no- 

 thing more than an enlarged accessory ray. 



Color. Body bright silvery, with a greenish tinge along the back. Pupils black ; irides 

 golden. Summit of the head bronzed. Opercles with golden metallic tints. All the fins 

 more or less punctate with black. Dorsal and caudal light olive-brown. Inferior fins tinged 

 with yellow. 



Length, 11*5; of the head, 2 - 4. 



Fin rays, D. 24 ; P. 15 ; V. 14 ; A. 17 ; C. 20 f. 



I have compared this specimen with a very slight notice of an Elops on our coast by Dr. 

 Mitchill, and refer them both to the same species. 



The fish described above, was taken in a net in the harbor of New-York, in the autumn. 

 It appeared to be little known to the fishermen, who spoke of having seen it before, and 

 called it the Round Herring. Dr. Mitchill's specimen was twenty-two inches long. I find 

 an Elops (not named) among the drawings of the fishes of Carolina by my friend Dr. Holbrook, 

 and suppose it to be a different species. 



The Saury is a southern species, and the coast of New-York is probably the limit of its 

 extreme northern range. 



(EXTRALIMITAL.) 



Genus Butiiunus, Commerson. Tongue, vomer and palatines paved with rounded teeth, closely 

 crowded together. Body elongated ; mouth small, with even teeth in the jaws- Snout promi- 

 nent. Branchial rays twelve. 



B. vulpes. (Catesby.) 2.1.2. 



