8 



POMOTIS VULGARIS. 



lonf, and has thirteen rays. The ventral arises just behind the root of the pecto- 

 ral, and terminates beyond the vent ; it has one short, stiff spine, and five branched 

 rays, the anterior slightly prolonged by a filament. The anal fin is large, elevated ; 

 it has three stout spines, the anterior short, and nine branched rays, much longer 

 than the spines. The caudal is broad, slightly lunate, and has seventeen rays. 



The scales are large, semicircular behind, and ciliated, slightly prominent be- 

 fore, with twelve radiating striae. The lateral line begins at the upper margin of 

 the opercle, and runs along the upper fourth of the body concurrent with the 

 dorsal outline to the root of the tail, when it descends to the median plane ; its 

 scale is slightly unguiform in shape, with the duct opening near its middle. 



Colour. The head is dusky above, with pale-blue waving lines running from 

 the snout to the eye ; the opercle, pre-opercle, and sub-opercle are also marked 

 with five or six bands of similar colour, more or less undulating ; the appendix 

 is black, with a bright scarlet blotch on its posterior part. The body is olive- 

 brown above, with a slight shade of green, and is marked with irregular spots of 

 reddish-brown ; the sides and belly are yellow, more or less clouded, and below 

 the lateral line are numerous brazen spots, or at times they may be bright reddish- 

 brown, arranged with some degree of regularity. The dorsal fin is transparent, 

 with dusky shades and dusky spots on its soft portion ; the rays of the pectoral 

 fin are yellow, though the membrane is transparent ; the ventral is transparent, 

 but with a strong yellow tint ; the anal is transparent, though it is shaded with 

 blue in places, and has a row of yellowish or brazen spots near the origin of the 

 rays ; the caudal is semi-transparent, with dusky shades and spots ; it is bordered 

 with dirty white behind, which is well seen in water when the animal is alive. 



Dimensions. The length of the animal from the opercle to the tip of the tail 

 is equal to two heads and three quarters ; the elevation Avithout the dorsal fin, to 

 one head and a half; total length, nine inches. 



Splanchnology. The peritoneum is silvery. Tlie liver is large, and without subdivisions into lobes 

 on its inferior aspect ; it is placed mostly on the left side, and extends more than half the length 



