180 Storer^s Descriptions of, and Observations on. 



The lateral line which is raised above the general surface of 

 the fish, arises half of an inch above the origin of the pectoral 

 fin, and in the language of Mitchill, '' does not travel straight, 

 but crooks and meanders along prettily towards the tail." 



The first dorsal fin, which is five inches long, arises less 

 than an inch back of the operculum : its anterior portion is 

 much higher than the posterior : the membrane connecting the 

 first eight rays is black — the remaining portion is white, ex- 

 cept at its edge, which is black : the second and third rays, 

 which are the highest, are one and a half inch high : all the 

 rays project above the membrane, and are furnished with del- 

 icate filaments. 



The second dorsal fin commences three-eighths of an inch 

 back of the first : it is of a lead color, two inches long, one 

 and a half inches high at its highest point : eight finlets about 

 three-eighths of an inch high, of the same color as the fin, are 

 situated between it and the tail. 



The pectoral fins which are falciform, arise directly back of 

 the angle of the operculum — they are six lines long and two 

 inches high ; black beneath, above lighter. 



The ventral fins are white — two lines long, and seven lines 

 high. 



The anal fin arises opposite the middle of the second dorsal 

 fin, and is of the same length as that fin : eight finlets, similar 

 in form to those of the dorsal, are seen beyond the anal fin. 



The caudal fin is lunated — four inches high — five inches 

 deep at its extremity, when expanded. At the base of this 

 fin is a lateral prominent carina, upon which the lateral line 

 terminates ; and on each side of this, are two smaller carinas 

 running the entire length of the fleshy portion of the tail. 



The fin rays are as follows :— D. 18—17 ; P. 20 ; V. 4 ; 

 A. 18 ; C. 26. 



While preparing my Report, no species gave me more 

 trouble to classify than that, which I there stated, '' after con- 

 siderable hesitation I have concluded to be the ' Trachino- 

 Tus ARGENTEus. Cuv.' " Dr. Dckay writes me that Mr. Coz- 

 zens also considered it a Trachinotus, in a paper he read 

 several years since to a Natural History Society, and gave it 



