282 Ayres^ Enumeration of tJie 



of the lower jaw to the posterior angle of the operculum is 

 seventeen twentieths, in tohianus the corresponding length 

 would be an inch. Again, " the posterior margin of the eye 

 is less than half way between the point of the lower jaw and 

 the posterior projecting angle of the gill-cover ; " the distance 

 from the posterior margin of the eye to the tip of the lower 

 jaw is decidedly, though slightly, less than the distance from 

 the same point to the angle of the operculum. " The dorsal 

 fin commencing in a hne over the middle of the pectoral 

 fin ; " the dorsal commences over the last third of the pecto- 

 ral. In Yarrell's account of the lancea the length of the pec- 

 torals is not mentioned, in tohianus it is said that their length 

 is one third of that of the head ; in my specimens their length 

 is half that of the head. The lower jaw is not so much elon- 

 gated as in the figure given of tohianus, agreeing in that re- 

 spect perfectly with the figure of lancea ; the size also is in 

 favor of the latter. I have examined very great numbers of 

 specimens, but have been unable to find more than one spe- 

 cies ; that species is, I believe, the lancea. 



Dr. Dekay has described an Ammodytes which he calls 

 americanus, but it can scarcely be the present species. In his 

 characteristics he says " length six to twelve inches." But 

 perhaps this is not what it ought to be, for at the end of his 

 description he says, " length, 4.0 — 6.0." He does not 

 mention the length of the head, but the origin of the dor- 

 sal, the situation of the nostrils, the length of the pectorals 

 seem to indicate that it is not the species which I have called 

 lancea. 



Syngnathus peckianus. Storer. 



In the waters of the island I was able to find but one spe- 

 cies of Syngnathus ; that one is, I have no doubt, the j)ecJC' 

 ianus. 



They commonly remain at the bottom among the eel-grass, 

 but in warm days they sometimes come to the surface ; at 

 such times I have taken them up with the hand without their 

 making any attempt to escape. July 3, 1840, several were 



