CO RBI A MOONFISH AND FLASHER. 



149 



occasionally taken in the lower part of the Chesapeake Bay, and Prof. 

 Baird obtained specimens about three inches long in August among the 

 eel-grass on Tuckahoe River, in New Jersey. Stragglers have been taken 

 at New York, and even as far north as Wood's Hall, Mass. They are 

 occasionally brought to the New York market, where they are highly 

 esteemed. Gill, writing in 1856, said : " I saw a single specimen of this 

 species in Fulton market last year, which remained exposed on the stall 

 from August 30 to September 6. It did not seem to be known. It was 

 about fifteen inches in length, and one dollar was demanded for it." 

 DeYoe saw one in Catherine market, in August, 1S64, taken in a net on 

 the Long Island coast, near Flatlands. He speaks of its excellence as a 

 fish for boiling, comparing it to the Sheepshead. By the fishermen of St. 

 John's River, Fla., it is considered one of die finest food-fishes, and its 

 large silver scales command a high price at the fancy shops, where they are 



sold to be used in the manufacture of scale works. 



THE RAVALLIA. 



The Ravallia or Snook, Centropomus undecimalis, is a fish which has only 

 recently been added to the 'fauna of the United States. 



It occurs only along the Gulf coast, where it is known by the Spanish 

 name, " Robalo," with such variations as " Ravaljo," " Ravallie " and 

 " Ravallia." It ranges from Florida to Rio Janeiro, and occurs in the 

 Pacific from the Gulf of California at least to Callao. The " R.obalo " 

 of Chili is quite another fish, the Pinguipes chilensis, of Cuvier. A closely 

 allied species, Centropomus robalcto, is the " Constantine " or " Robaleto " 

 of the Mazatlan fishermen. 



The Centropomus is a perch-like fish, and is not unlike StizostcJium in 

 appearance and structure. Its habits are very like those of its fresh- 



