276 Ayres' Enumeration of the 



haul. The price which he mentions is too great ; they are 

 often sold for fifty cents a thousand. 



MORRHUA PRUINOSA. Mitch. 



The tomcod is exceedingly rare, though on the north side 

 of the sound it is common. The only specimen I obtained in 

 Brookhaven was picked up on the beach. I am very happy to 

 have it in my power to mention this species under a better 

 name than '' tomcodus,^^ which it has borne so long. The one 

 adopted by Dr. Dekay (pruinosa) appears well selected and 

 entirely unobjectionable. 



MeRLUCIUS VULGARIS. CuV. 



February 1, 1841, I picked up on the beach a small speci- 

 men of this fish ; it is the only one I have seen. 



Phycis americanus? Schn. 



It is with much hesitation that 1 introduce the name of 

 this species. I have three specimens, all of which were 

 picked up on the beach during the winter of 1841 and 1842 ; 

 the largest is only about three inches in length. They differ 

 much from the account given of the Americanus, but as I am 

 acquainted with that species only through descriptions, and 

 these apparent differences may arise merely from the size of 

 my specimens, I do not venture at present to consider my fish 

 distinct. 



Platessa plana. Mitch. 



The flat-Jish is very abundant in the harbor during the whole 

 year, though in the winter they are not seen, having then re- 

 tired into the mud and become torpid. They begin to move 

 in the spring, commonly in April, but on their first appear- 

 ance they are very little esteemed ; during the summer they 

 are commonly taken with the spear. They are often found 

 buried in the sand so completely that the only parts of them 

 visible are their eyes. They are then apparently watching for 

 their prey, of small fish, among which the sand launccs are 

 perhaps most frequently taken by them. 



