LARIMUS FASCIATUS. 155 



tical dusky bars, more or less distinct, and with margins more or less regular ; 

 these bars are most observable above the lateral line, though some of them descend 

 nearly to the belly; the spinous portion of the dorsal fin is transparent, with the 

 margin of its membrane a little clouded ; the soft portion is more or less clouded ; 

 the pectoral is semi-transparent ; its rays are of a light colour, and its membrane is 

 slightly clouded ; the ventral is clouded with dirty yellow at its anterior half, but 

 its two last rays are white ; the large spine of the anal is light-coloured ; its four 

 anterior soft rays are tinted witli yellow, and its two posterior are white ; the cau- 

 dal is semi-transparent, slightly dusky with faint tints of yellow near its tip. 



Dimensions. Tlie head is less than one fourth of the entire length of the 

 animal ; the greatest elevation, without the dorsal fin, is equal to one head and a 

 half; total length, twelve inches. 



Splanchnology. The peritoneum is of a silvery colour. The liver is small, very pale, and consists 

 of two lobes, and a thin transverse or central portion ; of the two lobes, the left is rather the larger 

 and longer. The stomach is very small, scarcely an inch in length ; it is sub-conical in shape, pointed 

 behind, and has tolerably thick walls ; the pyloric portion is small, short, and branches off from the 

 stomach at its anterior fourth. The small intestine runs half way to the vent, and is then reflected 

 nearly to the pylorus, whence it turns backwards to end in the rectum. There are twelve small, 

 pointed coecal appendages. The spleen is long, slender, though thicker in its middle than at its 

 extremities. The air-bladder is very large, sub-pyriform, smallest and rather pointed behind. 



Habits. The Larimus fasciatus, though a very rare fish, is sometimes found in 

 company with the OtoUthus regalis, and is caught with the same bait. 



Geographical Distribution, This fish has as yet been observed only in the 

 waters of South Carolina. 



General Remarks. This animal bears a great resemblance to the Larimus bre- 

 viceps of Cuvier and Valenciennes; but can always be distinguished from it by the 

 broad, dusky vertical bars on the sides. 



