LABRAX AMERICANUS. 23 



The anterior dorsal begins at the most prominent part of the back, and on a 

 line behind the origin of the ventral fin ; it has nine spines, partially received in 

 a groove Avhen the fin is closed. The anterior spine is very short, and the fourth 

 is longest and very stout; the posterior dorsal is rather more elevated than the 

 anterior ; it has one spine and twelve soft rays, protected at their root by a wall of 

 scales ; smaller scales also ascend for some distance on the connecting membrane 

 of the rays. The pectoral begins near the spine of the opercle, and extends be- 

 yond the root of the eighth dorsal spine, and has fourteen rays. The ventral 

 arises behind the root of the pectoral, extends slightly beyond it, and has one 

 spine and five soft rays, the anterior of which is slightly prolonged into a filament. 

 The anal fin begins about the middle of the soft dorsal, and extends beyond it, and 

 is very slightly crescentic ; it has three spines, the anterior minute and the second 

 long and very stout, and nine soft rays, with scales like the posterior dorsal. The 

 caudal is large, slightly crescentic, and has seventeen rays ; its membrane is cov- 

 ered with scales for some distance. 



The scales are nearly quadrilateral, straight before, rounded and ciliated behind, 

 and marked with twelve radiating lines. The lateral line is very slightly arched at 

 first, but is soon nearly concurrent with the dorsal outline to the end of the second 

 dorsal fin, and is placed about the upper third of the body ; its scale is four-sided, 

 sub-cordate and ciliated behind, with its excretory duct near the middle. 



Colour. The back and sides above are pale silver-grey ; the sides below and 

 belly are silver-white, and without spots or marks. 



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

 to two heads and three quarters ; the greatest elevation without the dorsal fin is 

 one head and a quarter ; total length, ten inches. 



Splanchnology. The liver is short, but thick, and appears as one mass on its lower surface, though 

 it is separated into three lobes behind, of which the left is longest and the right is very short. 

 The stomach extends about half the length of the abdomen, and is pointed behind ; it has thin 

 walls, and the pyloric branch begins near its middle, is short, and has much thicker walls. The 



