232 AMERICAN FISHES. 



The Horse-fish, Selene setipinnis, known in North Carolina as the 

 " INIoonfish " or "Sunfish," and in Cuba by the name " Jorobado," was 

 called by DeKay " Blunt-nosed Shiner," and since this name, sometimes 

 varied to " Pugnosed Shiner," is in common use in the New York market 

 and in Narragansett Bay, while the other names are shared by other species, 

 similar and dissimilar, it seems the most suitable for general adoption. 

 The fish is found everywhere throughout the West Indies, as well as in 

 Northern Brazil and in the Gulf of Guinea, the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf 

 of California, and southward along the coast to Panama, but has not been 

 found in Europe. In Eastern Florida it is not very unusual, being fre- 

 quently taken in the Lower St. John's, and sometimes driven up as far as 

 Jacksonville by easterly storms. Here and in the Indian River it is known 

 as the " Moonfish." It is a frequent summer visitor all along the coast as 

 far north as Woods Holl, Mass., where it has a peculiar name, the people 

 there calling it the "Hump-backed Butterfish." The species attains the 

 length of ten or twelve inches, and is esteemed an excellent article of 

 food. Considerable numbers are brought yearly to New York, but else- 

 where it rarely appears in the markets. Young from three inches in 

 length upwards are found, but we have no definite knowledge as to its 

 breeding habits. 



The Silver Moon-fish, Selene argentca, is almost certain to be confused 

 by fishermen with the one last described, which it resembles, and is often 

 spoken of under the same names. It occurs abundantly on our coast as far 

 north as Woods Holl, and is found in the West Indies, in Brazil, and in 

 the Gulf of Mexico, as well as in the Pacific, from the Gulf of California 

 to Panama. 



The young of the Silver Moon-fish is abundant in our waters, and has 

 been frequently taken in Massachusetts Bay, and, in one or two instances, 

 as far north as Halifax, Nova Scotia. Their bodies are so thin that they 

 can be dried in the sun without the use of any preservatives, without loss 

 of form and color. They are, consequently, of no importance for food. 

 In the Chesapeake this fish is often called by the names " Horse-head," 

 and " Look-down." 



The Amber-fish, Seriola carolincnsis, is quite common off the West 

 Florida coast, occurring in from ten to thirty fathoms of water on or near 

 the ' snapper banks ' throughout the year. It is an active species, 

 swimming just below the surface, and preying ui)on schools of small fish. 



