Fishes of Brookhaven, L. I. 257 



however, two specimens of the flavescens which number 

 fourteen rays in the first dorsal, several which give thirteen, 

 and one of twelve in the same fin. Dr. Storer states the num- 

 ber at thirteen ; Dr. Mitchill, at twelve. In fish of other gen- 

 era, I have even found the pectorals, on opposite sides of the 

 same specimen, giving a difierent number of rays ; I will men- 

 tion such examples when arriving at the species in their 

 order. 



Etheostoma Olmstedi. Storer. 



This species I have seen, on the island, only in the Con- 

 necticut — a stream emptying into Fireplace Bay. They are 

 commonly found lying on the bottom, and if disturbed, they 

 dart forward a few yards and drop again on the sand. I have 

 not found them more than four inches in length. 



Labrax lineatus. Cuv. 



The Striped Basse is common on both the north and south 

 sides of the island. On the north side they are seen in the 

 Sound as early as the first of May, and remain till November. 

 Owing to the waters being shallow and very clear, I have not 

 succeeded in taking them with the hook ; they are caught ex- 

 clusively with nets. They do not commonly exceed four 

 pounds in weight, and the largest I have known, weighed but 

 forty. On the south side, however, they are taken both in 

 the bays and in the ocean, in much larger numbers and of 

 greater size. Fifty thousand weight have been drawn by a 

 single net in five weeks ; and the largest weigh from a hun- 

 dred to a hundred and twenty pounds. The food of this 

 species, while with us, appears to consist of small fish, chiefly 

 Ammodytes and Atherinas, Cuttle Fish, Shell Fish (Mytili 

 and Myae, mostly) and young crabs, or, which seems to be a 

 greater delicacy to them — soft crabs. 



Of three specimens, two have nine rays in the first dorsal, 

 while the other has but eight. 



Labrax mucronatus. Cuv. 



This Basse is not common ; I have met with them in 

 only three localities, a small pond and creek at Setauket, 

 33 



