. HjEMULON arcuatum, 123 



of variable length, some being nearly two inches long. The air-bladder is large, pointed behind, 

 with a cornu on each side in front, that runs forward near the oesophagus ; its lining mem- 

 brane is of a greyish colour. The kidneys are broad before, and terminate about the posterior 

 fifth of the abdomen; but the ureters are continued, and end in a small, short, sub-pyriform 

 bladder. 



Habits. The Red-mouth Grunt is occasionally taken in our waters at all 

 seasons of the year, but is never abundant, as seldom more than two or three are 

 met with at a time in market ; it is not esteemed as food, as its flesh lacks both 

 firmness and flavour. 



Geographical Distribution. The Hcemulon chri/sopteron is found along our 

 coast from New York to the Gulf of Mexico, but I am not aware of its existence 

 in the Gulf itself. 



General Remarks, Catesby gave the first description and figure of this 

 animal ; the figure is one of the best in his work, so far as regards form, and 

 the red mouth is well marked. The description, too, though short, is charac- 

 teristic : — " This fish has a rounding back, making a curved line between the 

 head and tail ; the mouth is moderately wide and red within ; the upper mandible 

 hanging a little over the lower, and both of them have a single row of small, 

 sharp teeth." 



H^MULON AECUATUM. — Valenciemies. 



Plate XVII. Fig. 2. 



Specific Characters. Body elevated, compressed, brown above, with a pale 

 cupreous tint, sides lighter ; scales with a bright gilded spot ; head dusky above, 

 and marked at the sides with horizontal lines of ultramarine blue ; posterior half 

 of the lower lip red. D. 12 - 17. P. 16. V. 1 - 5. A. 3 - 9. C. 20. 



