CARANX HIPPOS. 91 



Splanchnology. The peritoneum is silvery ; the liver is large, firm, dark-coloured, and seems 

 as one mass, if observed from below, as there is no mark of fissures ; it is thick before and thin 

 behind, with an irregular margin ; and is slightly longest on the left side ; when the liver is re- 

 moved, three prominences appear on its anterior part ; a central very short, and a right and left 

 lateral, which are long, pointed, and project forward. The gall-bladder is an elongated tube, which 

 extends beyond the stomach, and is somewhat convoluted. The stomach is rather small, sub- 

 cylindrical, pointed behind, with tolerably thick walls, and numerous longitudinal folds on its 

 mucous membrane ; the pyloric portion is large and long ; it arises from behind the posterior 

 fourth of the stomach, and has thicker and firmer walls, with a very remarkable pyloric contrac- 

 tion. The small intestine has thick and firm walls, though the folds on its inner face are but 

 small ; it runs nearly to the vent, and is then reflected to the pylorus, whence it turns back, 

 to end after a short distance in the rectum, with a large rectal valve. There are numerous ccecal 

 appendages, small, delicate, but rather long ; they are firmly united together, and partially ar- 

 ranged into two or three great masses. The spleen is short, but broad and thick, and is placed 

 rather obliquely, from right to left. The testicles when filled are very large, broad, sub-triquetral, 

 and extend more than half their length behind the vent, and end in a point; they do not unite 

 in substance, but a short excretory duct goes from near the centre of each. The air-bladder 

 is large, and extends throughout the abdomen ; it is broad and truncated before, with a minute 

 horn on each side of its anterior part, which runs a short distance forwards and outwards ; behind, 

 it is subdivided into two horns. The kidney is large and broad. 



Habits. This animal is so seldom seen in the waters of South Carolina, that 

 we are unacquainted with its habits. 



Geographical Distribution. The Caranx hippos has a wide range along the 

 Atlantic coast. Dr. Storer found it in the waters of Massachusetts ; and I have 

 received specimens from Florida. 



General Eemarks. This fish was undoubtedly first described by Linnaeus 

 as the Scomber hippos, and from specimens found in Carolina, which were sent 

 him by Dr. Garden. 



Dr. Mitchill long after observed the animal at New York, and, supposing it 

 to be an undescribed species of Scomber, he applied to it the specific name 

 chrysos ; and in this he has been followed by most ichthyologists. 



