Fishes of Brookhaven^ L. I. 285 



error of the press or in copying. But the color also differs 

 from my specimens and from Dr. Dekay's description, though 

 this is not of so much importance. 



Dr. Dekay says the species is not rare ; but on the north 

 shore of Brookhaven it is very seldom seen. In three years I 

 was able to obtain but two specimens, and the fisliermen al- 

 ways spoke of it as an extremely rare fish. The only other 

 specimen I have ever seen, is in the cabinet of the Yale Natu- 

 ral History Society, New Haven ; it was probably taken some- 

 where in Connecticut. 



The food of the species consists, in part at least, of crusta- 

 ceous animals ; the stomach of one of those which I procured, 

 contained fragments of what is commonly known as the spider- 

 crab or sea-spider (JLihinia canalicidaia, Say). Dr. Dekay 

 says, that the stomach of one which he examined was filled 

 with fragments of shells. That they feed much on fish is not 

 probable, their movements being too slow to allow of their 

 securinsf food of that kind. 



The natatory bladder is uncommonly large and bifurcated 

 anteriorly, somewhat like that of a Batrachus, which, how- 

 ever, it greatly exceeds in its relative size. 



Tetraodon turgidus. Mitch. 



The swell-fish is very common, and frequently very trouble- 

 some in taking the bait used in fishing for hlackfish and por- 

 gees while their own flesh is considered of no value. They 

 arrive as early as the first of June and remain till October. I 

 have found the fin rays in this species differing almost con- 

 stantly. The most common number for the pectorals appears 

 to be sixteen ; in one instance I found them fifteen ; in another 

 seventeen ; in four specimens, fifteen in one pectoral and six- 

 teen in the other ; and in one instance, sixteen on one side 

 and seventeen on the other. The anal fin gives sometimes 

 seven rays, and at others eight ; Dr. Storer and Dr. Dekay say 

 that in the specimens described by them the number was six. 



These fish possess, in a remarkable degree, the power of 

 changing their color at will. If alarmed while lying on the 



