FISHES OP NEW YORK 615 



in warmed water. It feeds freely when the temperature is agree- 

 able. ■ 



Young individuals were obtained in 1898 at the ocean beach, 

 Southampton, Long Island, August 3, Islip, August 18, and Fire 

 Island inlet, September 16. No adults were seen; the largest 

 example was about 9 inches long. In 1901, an adult was ob- 

 tained from Watts's pound, in Clam Pond cove, August 13, and 

 another was speared in Fire Island inlet, August 1; no young 

 were observed. 



At Woods Hole Mass. according to Dr Smith, it is rather com- 

 mon every year in August and September. The largest are 18 

 inches long, the smallest 3 inches. ,The position constantly as- 

 sumed in the aquarium is with the head down. Succulent algae 

 are often eaten by the fish in captivity, the long branches of some 

 species being bitten off and swallowed in a surprisingly short 

 time. The color of the young is a dirty white, with large reddish- 

 brown mottlings or blotches; the larger are orange-colored with 

 the same mottlings as when young. 



The species is seldom found north of Cape Cod. An individual 



taken at Forest River lead works, Salem, Mass. Aug. 9, 1845, 



was preserved in the museum of the Essex institute. At Somers 



Point N. J., a few young were found in August and September, 



but the adults were absent. This is called sunflsh at Somers 



Point. 



Suborder ostracodermi 



Trwikfishes 

 Family ostraciidae 

 Genus lactophrys Swainson 

 Trunkfishes with the carapace three-angled, the ventral sur- 

 face flat or concave, never carinate; carapace closed behind the 

 anal fin; carapace with or without frontal and abdominal spines; 

 dorsal rays nine or 10; caudal rays al^i^ays 10. This genus con- 

 tains five species, four of them American, and differs from the 

 Old World genus Ostracion only in the form of the cara- 

 pace. The median dorsal ridge of the carapace is much more 

 developed than the others, so that the body is three-sided and 



