FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 



235 



76. Polydactylus octonemus {Girard). Thkeadfin. — On September 24, 1896, 

 three specimens were obtained by Mr. John B. De Nyse in Gravesend Bay and sent to 

 the Aquarium dead, as they would not endure captivity. The fish agrees in coloration 

 and in every other respect with P. octofilis Gill, and is believed to be the adult form of 

 P. octonemus Girard. This is probably the first record of its occurrence in New York 

 waters for more than thirty years. 



Measurements. 



Length, including caudal. 



Length to end of middle caudal rays, 



Length to origin of middle caudal rays, 



Greatest depth of body, 



Least depth of caudal peduncle. 



Length of head, 



Length of snout. 



Diameter of eye, 



Length of upper jaw. 



Length of mandible, 



Length of longe.st pectoral filament. 



Length of upper and lower caudal lobes. 



Length of pectoral, 



Length of longest (third) dorsal spine. 



Length of second dorsal ray. . 



Length of ventral, .... 



Length of longest anal ray. 



Length of anal base. 



Length of base of first dorsal, . 



Length of base of second dorsal. 



8^ in. 



7'-' " 



6^8 " 

 2 



-h 



h 



2^ 



2Va 



iV. 



I 



The longest pectoral filament reaches to below the interspace between the two 

 dorsals and slightly past the vent. The diameter of the eye equals the length of the 

 snout and one-fifth the length of the head. 



77. Ammodytes americanus {Bi- Kaj). Sand Launce ; Sand Eel ; Lant. — 

 The species appears in Gravesend Bay in July, but is more plentiful in winter. In the 

 Aquarium it will not thrive for want of sand and proper food. It swims continually 

 and soon dies. The fish buries itself in sand and sometimes, when alarmed, will leap 

 four inches above the sand. 



78. Mullus auratus {Jordan & Gilbert). Red Mullet; Goat Fish. — Three 

 individuals of a Mullus were captured in a seine at Sandy Hook, N. J., October 8, 

 1897, and brought alive to the Aquarium, where they are now (November 30, 1897) 



