134 OTOLITHUS NOTHUS. 



General Remarks. This fish was first described by Valenciennes, and from 

 specimens taken in South Carolina. 



OTOLITHUS l^OTiUJS. — HoIbrook 



Plate XIX. Fig. 1. 



Specific Characters. Head and body silvery-white, or but slightly shaded 

 above. D. 8-1-28. P. 16. V. 1-5. A. 1-9. C. 18. 



Synonyme. Bastard Trout, Vulgo. 



Description. The form of this Otolithus differs from that last described in 

 being shorter and thicker in proportion, and more arched along the back ; the head, 

 too, is smaller, the snout shorter, and the lower jaw more pointed. The eye is very 

 large, and is less than its diameter from the snout ; the pupil is deep blue, and the 

 iris golden-grey. The nostrils are double; the posterior and larger is oval, 

 elongated, nearly vertical, and on a plane rather below the upper margin of the 

 eye, and at the anterior extremity of the supra-orbital ridge ; the anterior is circu- 

 lar, small, and very near the posterior. 



The mouth is large, with thin lips ; the upper jaw is very protractile, and 

 armed with a double series of small, conical, pointed teeth ; in front, and between 

 these rows, but belonging to neither, though nearest the posterior, are two large 

 canine teeth, conical, pointed, recurved, and directed backwards. The lower jaw 

 has a double series of minute, pointed teeth in front, AvhUe behind there is only a 

 single row, and the teeth are larger. The tongue is large, flat, free in front, and 

 rounded. The pre-opercle is rounded at its angle ; its ascending border runs rather 

 forwards, and both have a crenated margin. The opercle terminates in two minute, 

 flattened points, between which is extended backwards a rounded portion of skin. 

 There are seven branchial rays. The supra-scapular is large and semiciixular. 



