38 POMOXIS HEXACANTHUS. 



The dorsal fin is single, with its soft portion greatly elevated ; it arises in a line 

 nearly vertical with the middle of the pectoral, and has seven sj)ines, the anterior 

 minute, and fifteen soft rays. The pectoral begins at the opercle and extends to 

 the root of the third dorsal spine ; it has twelve rays. The ventral begins nearly 

 in a line with the pectoral, and terminates with it at the first anal spine ; it has 

 one stout spine and five soft rays. The anal begins with the soft dorsal, though 

 it continues farther back, and is more elevated ; it has six spines and seventeen 

 soft rays. The caudal is large, broad, slightly crescentic, and has seventeen rays. 



The scales are nearly semicircular, with the diameter in front, rounded behind, 

 and not ciliated. The lateral line is well marked ; it corresponds Avith the dorsal 

 outline, and runs near the junction of the middle and superior thirds of the body; 

 its scales are sub-triangular, the bases before and the apices behind, and rounded 

 or very slightly cordate ; the excretory tube is single and large. 



Colour. The head and body above are more or less dusky, and shaded with 

 bluish-green ; the lower jaw, sides, and belly are silvery, and marked with bluish- 

 green blotches, more or less distinct, and placed without much regularity. The 

 pectoral is of the faintest yellow tint ; the ventral is yellowish, but very pale near 

 its root, and bluish at its extremity ; the dorsal is semi-transparent, rather dusky, 

 and with numerous yellowish spots, more or less bright, in the connecting mem- 

 brane of the rays, those near the root of the fin being brightest ; the anal is col- 

 oured like the dorsal ; the caudal is like the anal, but more dusky. 



Dimensions. The length from the opercle to the tip of the caudal fin is equal 

 to two heads and a half; the elevation, to one head and a quarter ; total length, 

 twelve inches. 



Splanchnology. The liver is of moderate size, and without any marks of lobes in front ; but its 

 posterior margin is subdivided into three lobes, of which the left is longest and the right shortest. 

 The gall-bladder is large, round, with very thin walls, near the right lobe, and partly concealed by 

 it. The stomach is large, broad, thick, and with firm walls, especially behind the pyloric portion, 

 which is short and goes off at a right angle rather beyond its middle. The pyloric valve is well 



