148 GENUS CORVINA. 



the spine ; the ureters enlarge a little before their termination, but not enough to make a urinary 

 bladder. 



Habits. The Croker first makes its appearance in deep water off Charleston in 

 the month of May, but it only becomes common in shallow water in June and 

 July, and is most abundant and of the largest size in October and November. It 

 is not much esteemed as food, and is only used as a pan-fish. 



Geographical Distribution. The Micmpogon undulatus is known to inhabit 

 the waters of the United States, from Virginia to Lake Pontchartrain, near New 

 Orleans. 



General Remarks. Catesby published the first figure of this fish in his Nat- 

 ural History of Carolina, as the Croker, and accompanied it by a very short and 

 imperfect description. Linnaeus afterwards described it more fully and accurately 

 as Perca undtdata, from a specimen sent him by Dr. Garden. 



GENUS CORVINA. — Cwmer. 



Characters. Head large, with the snout round and full ; no barbels at the 

 chin ; teeth in both jaws numerous, small, villiform ; upper jaw with an outer row 

 of large, conical, sharp-pointed teeth ; two dorsal fins, or one deeply emarginate ; 

 anal spines, in some, moderate ; ia others, robust ; pre-opercle serrated ; branchial 

 rays seven. 



Remarks. This genus of Sciaenidae was established by Cuvier, and is closely 

 allied to Umbrina and Pogonias, though he says it may be distinguished from 

 either of them by its want of barbels at the chin ; and from Sciaena by the size 

 and extent of its anal spines, or from Otolithus by its want of canine teeth ; yet 

 one of the characters that he assigns to Corvina, " an external row of larger. 



