70 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Sub-class Teleostei. PEKCoiDiE. 



as long as the head. It is of blueish brown above, and near the 

 abdomen commences a bright silvery hue. There are eight or 

 nine blackish bands or streaks passing from near the operculum, 

 the middle ones terminating in the caudal fin. Sometimes these 

 bands are curved and sometimes interrupted. Scales large and 

 somewhat quadrangular, showing concentric lines on their sides, 

 as also very minute strise diverging from the centre. They con- 

 tinue more or less on all the fins. Storer enumerates sixty-two 

 scales along the lateral line. The lateral line is nearly straight, 

 arises near the superior spine of the operculum, and extends 

 through the fourth stripe of the body to the tail. 



The first dorsal fin arises behind the line from the posterior half 

 of the pectoral. The spinous rays are nine in number. The first 

 smallest, the fourth and fifth longest, and the others decreasing in 

 length to the last. The second dorsal has the first ray spinous, 

 and twelve branched ones — second ray longest. 



Pectorals arise a short distance behind the gill opening and a 

 little below the lower spine of the operculum, rather short, and 

 have sixteen rays. The ventrals are a little behind the pectorals ; 

 the firsiray is spinous and short, the second ray is longest. The 

 amal arises on a line midway of the second dorsal. Its three first 

 rays are spinous, rather short and stout. 



Caudal deeply forked, and twice as wide at its posterior edge, 

 when spread, as it is at its base. 



Ray formula — 



D. 9, 1-12 ; P. 16 to 18 ; V. 1-5 ; A. 3, 11 ; C. 11 to 18. 



Length from six inches to four feet. 



Synonymes. — Sciana lineata, Block. 

 Perca saxatilis, Schnsod. 

 Perca Sepiiontralis, Schuaed. 

 Centropome Raye, La. Cep. 

 Perca Mitchilli, Mitch. 

 Labrax lineatus, Storer, DeKay, Rich. 



Genus Pomotis, Baf. 



Gen. Char. Body subcircular or elliptical, very much compressed. Head small 

 or moderate ; mouth proportionate to size of head. Jaws generally equal, lower 

 one longest. Velvet or card teeth upon the jaws and front of the vomer only. 

 Tongue smooth, checks and opercular apparatus scaly. Branchial apertures con- 

 tinuous under the throat. Spinous portion of dorsal fin longer and less elevated 



