CARANX DEFENSOR. 87 



increase in size, as well as in the elevation of their carina and in the length 

 of their spines, to the middle of the space existing between the posterior ex- 

 tremity of the dorsal and the root of the caudal fin, whence they decrease rap- 

 idly in size. 



Colour. The head above is palest brown, often with an olive tint, or at times a 

 shade of green ; the upper, as well as the lower jaw, and throat, are silvery-white ; 

 the body above the lateral line is of the palest brown, with a strong golden tint ; 

 below, it is silvery-white or golden, with purple reflections, or iridescent in certain 

 lights. The opercle has at its posterior border, and above its angle, a dark blotch ; 

 the anterior dorsal fin is semi-transparent, with obscure dusky shades ; the pectoral 

 is transparent, with a faint yellomsh tint, and a dusky blotch on its inner face, 

 about its anterior fourth ; if the fin be stretched, it will be seen that the mem- 

 brane is not coloured, but the rays only, which then appear as seven short, black 

 lines ; the ventral is- white, semi-transparent, with its anterior rays and membrane 

 tinted yellow near the middle ; the anal has its nine anterior rays yellow, particu- 

 larly so in front ; the two spines before the anal are white, tinted yellow, and the 

 membrane of the posterior spine is yellow ; the caudal is yellow, more or less 

 clouded with light brown. 



Splanchnology. The liver is large and trilobate behind, though there is no mark of separation 

 before, as all appears one mass, until it be removed from the body ; the left lobe is longest, as 

 the right does not extend beyond its middle ; both project into the hypochondria, especially 

 the left. The stomach is large, and extends three fourths the length of the abdomen ; its walls 

 are very thick, and its mucous surface is marked with numerous longitudinal folds ; the pyloric 

 portion begins about its posterior fourth, and is short, with its walls even thicker than the stomach 

 itself. There are numerous crecal appendages. The spleen is large, scaphoid in form, broad- 

 est behind, and placed far back. The air-bladder is large, with thin walls ; it is full and rounded 

 in front, but bifurcates in two small horns behind. The kidney is large, thick, and opens into a 

 urinary bladder. 



Habits. The Horse CrevaUe abounds along the shores of Carolina during the 

 summer months, and is mostly found in deep water. Its food seems to be vari- 



