84 GENUS CARANX. 



Geographical Distribution. This animal is found along the Atlantic shores 

 of America, from Brazil to New York ; it abounds also in the Gulf of Mexico, 

 and is known at New Orleans as the Pompynose, probably a corruption of j;«m- 

 panus, or pampano. 



General Remarks. The Cavalli, though certainly known to Dr. Garden, and 

 sent by him to Linnaeus, was, however, first accurately described by Cuvier and 

 Valenciennes as the Trachinotus pampanus. 



Dr. DeKay's account of our animal is next in order, and is defective, as it was 

 taken from a dried specimen of more than twenty years' standing ; he placed it in 

 the genus Lichia, with the specific name Carolina. But the absence of maxillary 

 teeth, and the peculiar structure of the pharyngeal bones, would forbid its being 

 embraced in that genus. Nor can his specific name be retained, as that of Cuvier 

 and Valenciennes has the right of priority ; unless, indeed, it could be satisfactorily 

 proved that our Crevalle is identical with the Gasterosteus Carolina of Linnaeus, 

 and this cannot be done, as that animal must be a Caranx, it having a carina 

 along its tail. Yet it is almost certain that the Crevalle of Dr. Garden, which 

 LinnfEus quotes as a synonyme, is the animal noAV under consideration ; for the 

 name Crevalle, or Cavalli, was commonly applied to this fish, even in the time of 

 Dr. Garden, as I have been informed by his contemporaries; and if we consider 

 the great estimation in which this fish is held by epicures, and the price it com- 

 mands in market above all others, it is not probable that its name has been 

 changed. 



GENUS CARANX. — CMmen 



Characters. Body compressed, covered with minute scales ; two dorsal fins ; 

 lateral line furnished with large scales ; those on its posterior half have each an 

 elevated carina, terminating in a point behind, and thus making a continuous 

 ridge ; free spines before the anal fin ; teeth minute ; branchial rays seven. 



