222 AMERICAN FISHES. 



with the mackerel and disappearing about the same time. It appears to 

 breed in the sounds and in the open ocean in June and July, and the 

 young are found in great abundance in July, August, and September, 

 swimming about in company with certain species of jelly-fishes. During 

 these months several large species of jelly-fish, or sun-squalls, are found 

 abundantly floating about in waters near the shore, and each one of these 

 is almost invariably accompanied by ten or twelve, or more, young 

 Butter-fishes, which seem to seek shelter under their disks, and which, 

 perhaps, may obtain a supply of food from among the numerous soft- 

 bodied invertebrates which are constantly becoming attached to the 

 floating streamers of their protecters. The young fish, thus protected, 

 range from two to two and a half inches in length. I have seen fifteen, 

 and more, sheltered under an individual of Cyanea arctica not more than 

 three inches in diameter. This refuge is not always safe for the little 

 fishes, for they sometimes are destroyed by the tentacles of their protector, 

 which are provided, as every one knows, with powerful lasso cells. The 

 little fish seem to rise at the approach of danger and seek refuge among 

 the lobes of the actinostome. They are thus protected from the 

 attacks of many kinds of larger fishes which prey upon them, though they 

 themselves often fall victims to the stinging power of the jelly-fish and are 

 devoured. The habit of thus seeking shelter is very much like that of the 

 rudder-fish. The Butter-fish attains an average size of seven or eight 

 inches in length, and is very often taken in the pounds. The fishermen 

 of Noank, Conn., tells me that a barrelful of them is often taken in one 

 haul of a pound-net. They are much valued for food at New Bedford. 

 When sent to New York they command a good price, and the poundmen 

 at Lobsterville sometimes eat them and consider them better than scup. 

 Their flavor is excellent, resembling that of the mackerel, though less 

 oily ; they are very palatable when nicely boiled. At many places, for 

 instance, Noank, and Wood's Holl, they are thrown away. Storer stated 

 that they were extensively used as manure in certain parts of Massachu- 

 setts. No observations have been made upon their food, though, since 

 their mouths are nearly toothless, it seems probable that they subsist, for 

 the most part, upon minute vertebrates. These fishes are remarkable on 

 account of their brilliant, iridescent colors, which, in freshly caught 

 individuals, are as beautiful as those of a dolphin. 



The Harvest-fish, Stromatcus alepiJotus, has not been observed north of 



