20 LABRAX LINEATUS. 



Dimensions. The entire length, from the opercle to the tip of the tail, is equal 

 to three heads ; the greatest elevation without the dorsal fin, to one head ; total 

 length, twenty-one inches. Rock-fish are sometimes taken of much greater size. 



Splanchnology. The liver is very large, thick, and without divisions into lobes ; it extends much 

 the farthest back on the left side, and is very full in front ; it is of a very pale colour ; the gall- 

 bladder is of great size, and conical in form, reaching more than half its length behind the right 

 lobe. The stomach is long, cylindrical, not very broad, and has enormously thick walls ; its pyloric 

 branch begins near the anterior fifth, is very short, but stout, and has a well-marked contraction. 

 The small intestine runs at first nearly to the vent ; it is then reflected to the pylorus, whence it 

 returns to end in the rectum, which has thick walls ; the rectal valve is remarkably full, projecting 

 far into the intestine ; its surface next the small intestine has large plaits radiating to the centre ; its 

 rectal surface is smooth ; the spleen is very large, and of darkest purple colour. The air-bladder 

 is of great size, reaching the whole length of the abdomen, is rather pointed behind, broad in front, 

 with four or five large sacs on each side. 



Habits. The Rock-fish inhabits not only our Atlantic shores, but it also enters 

 those rivers that open into the sea, and is often found many miles from the coast ; 

 yet, on the whole, it must be regarded as a salt-water fish, at least in the northern 

 parts of our country. Dr. Mitchill says, they only ascend fresh-water streams in 

 the spring to breed, or for shelter during the winter ; and Dr. Mease observes, 

 that, after heavy rains, or the sudden melting of snow in great quantities, these fish 

 are forced from their abodes back again into the salt water, but when the freshet 

 subsides they invariably reascend. Many of the larger kind never run up streams 

 of fresh water, but live along the shore, and only enter creeks and inlets with the 

 flood tide, and chiefly at night, in search of food, and return with the ebb. In 

 Carolina the habits of this fish are somewhat diff"erent, as it is seldom taken in salt 

 water, and is constantly seen in the rivers of fresh water, and at a distance from 

 the ocean. It feeds on various small fish, as well as on crustaceous animals. It 

 is esteemed one of our most savoury fishes. 



Geographical Distribution. The Lahrax lineatus is found along the coast 

 from Maine to Georgia. 



General Remarks. The first account of this fish may be seen in the Ichthy- 



