Fishes of Brookhaven, L. I. 263 



the water before he would loose his hold. On the approach 

 of cold weather, they bury themselves in the mud and re- 

 main torpid ; and are very frequently brought up with the 

 spear while striking in the mud for eels. One was brought to 

 me which had been taken in this manner, Oct. 27th, 1840 ; 

 it was torpid and lived nearly twentyfour hours without water. 



Labrus am eric anus. Bloch. 



The Black-Fish is here less common than in most parts of 

 the Sound, owing doubtless to the absence of rocky bottom 

 and shores. Those which I have met with are also of infe- 

 rior size, the largest I have seen weighing but little over two 

 pounds. Toward the east end of the island, at Sagharbor 

 and Greenport, and in Gardiner's Bay, they are much more 

 numerous. 



Crenilabrus burgall. Schoepp. 



Here, as on other parts of the coast, the Burgall is ex- 

 tremely abundant. They are seen as early as the middle of 

 May, and remain till the last of October, and in storms are 

 washed up on the beach of the Sound, through the whole 

 winter. Among their numerous varieties of color, I, the last 

 season, saw several specimens which had their entire surface 

 banded with alternate vertical lines of black and light brown, 

 presenting an appearance so singular, that at first I supposed 

 them to be of a distinct species. T have found the dorsal fin 

 rays sometimes 18 — 10, at others 18 — 11 and at still others 

 17—11. 



Leuciscus chrysoleucas. Mitch. 



This fish I have received from the Peconic river, near Riv- 

 erhead, and am not aware that it is found in any other of the 

 streams on the island. 



FuNDULUs Fuscus. Ayres. 



I have met with this Fundulus, only in the Connecticut ; 

 it appears to be somewhat uncommon there, living chiefly 

 among the grass with which the river abounds. The species 

 is, I believe, undescribed. 



