LAGODON RHOMBOIDES. 59 



margin yellowish ; the ventral is transparent, and white, except its two or three 

 anterior rays, which are yellow ; the anal spines are white, and a yellow longitu- 

 dinal band passes through the middle of the fin, which is bordered with blue near 

 the origin of its rays, and with paler blue on its external margin ; the caudal is 

 yellowish-brown ; six or seven vertical dusky bars at times mark the sides, the an- 

 terior of which includes the dusky spot above the pectoral fin ; but it must be re- 

 membered, that these bands are often so indistinct, as to be seen only in certain 

 lights. 



Dimensions. The length between the opercle and tip of the tail is equal to 

 three and a half heads ; the elevation, to a head and a quarter without the dorsal 

 fin, and to a head and a half with it ; total length, ten inches. 



Splanchnology. The peritoneum is silvery, but with numerous small, dusky spots, that give the 

 whole a dark colour ; the liver is large and trilobate ; the left lobe is irregularly three-sided, and 

 extends nearly to the vent ; the middle lobe is thick above, and joined to the left, without a distinct 

 fissure, but does not extend more than half as far back ; the right lobe is thick, and about half as 

 long as the middle lobe ; both right and left lobes project into the hypochondria. The gall-bladder 

 IS a long tube, reaching nearly to the vent, and is very slightly enlarged behind. The stomach is 

 rather small, though long, sub-cylindrical, and pointed behind in the undistended state ; when full, 

 it fills much of the abdominal cavity ; the pyloric portion begins at the posterior fourth, and is 

 small, though rather long ; there are four large ccecal appendages. The small intestine runs half 

 way to the vent, then returns to the base of the pylorus, whence it is reflected, after one or two 

 short convolutions, to end in the rectum. The spleen is very small, oblong, and flattened. The 

 air-bladder is large, broad before, and narrow behind, where it terminates in two horns. There is 

 no urinary bladder, though the kidney is tolerably thick. 



Habits. The Salt-water Bream is found in our waters at all seasons of the year, 

 though it is most abundant in May and June. It feeds on various crustaceous 

 animals, and on smaller fish. 



Geographical Distribution. This fish abounds along the southern shores of 

 the United States, from Cape Hatteras to Lake Pontchar train, where it was ob- 

 served by Lesueur ; what may be its extreme northern limit is not yet well deter- 



