436 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



long dorsal rays contained twice in the length of the body; the 

 pectoral two and three fourths times; and the long anal rays 

 two and two thirds. D. VII-I, 22; A. D-I, 20. Bluish above, 

 sides and below silvery with golden reflections; anterior edge 

 of soft dorsal black; axil dusky. 



Examples measuring from 3 to 4 inches, taken at Beesleys 

 Point N. J. Aug. 10-11, 1887, showed the following colors: sil- 

 very; five golden bands on sides, one of which extends through 

 the eye and below it half way to maxilla, or slightly farther. 

 The second and third soon fade, persisting only above median 

 line and at their lower extremities. 



The example taken August 11 is 4 inches long; its longest first 

 dorsal ray measures 6| inches; the other is 3 inches long, and 

 has a filamentous spine measuring 5 inches. 



The lookdown is found on both coasts of tropical America 

 and in temperate parts of the Atlantic north to Cape Cod and 

 Lower California. At Woods Hole Mass. it is rare, but a few are 

 taken annually in traps and seines, usually in September. 

 Storer describes a specimen 5^ inches long from New Bedford 

 Mass. ^Mitchill mentions the fish under two names, hair-flnnod 

 dory and rostrated dory, but gives no special locality. De Kay 

 calls it the hair-finned argyreiose and notes its appearance in 

 New York waters about the latter end of August and its cap- 

 ture in gill nets. The writer obtained four young examples by 

 seining at the Blue Point Lifesaving station Oct. 7, 1890. Aug. 

 29, 1898, he took another young individual in the seine at Dun- 

 can's creek. Great South bay. 



The fish is interesting only from its silvery colors and singular 

 shape, which make it a great attraction for the aquarium. 

 Three individuals of the moonfish were obtained from Gravesend 

 bay Sep. 8 and 29, 1897. In November they were transferred 

 to a tank in which the water was at a temperature of 68° to 70° 

 F, and they were successfully kept through the winter. 

 Genus chi.oroscombrvs Girard 



Body oblong ovate, closely compressed, but not elevated; the 

 abdomen prominent anteriorly, its curve being much greater 



