178 PAGRUS ARGYROPS. 



Splanchnology. The liver is large, and consists of two lobes, with a transverse portion ; the left 

 lobe is long, reaching nearly to the vent ; the right lobe, and the central or transverse portion, are 

 about half as long. The gall-bladder is an elongated cone, and extends nearly as far back as the left 

 lobe. The stomach is long, broad, conical ; its pyloric branch arises far forwards, and is thick and 

 stout. The small intestine runs nearly to the vent, and is then reflected forwards to the pylorus, 

 whence it returns to end in the rectum, which is more capacious, and has much thicker walls. 

 There are four stout, but rather short, coecal appendages, and the intestine is somewhat dilated after 

 their entrance. The air-bladder is large, oblong, and extends throughout the abdomen ; from each 

 anterior corner arises a horn, that runs upwards, outwards, and then backwards on the outer sur- 

 face of several of the anterior ribs. There is no urinary bladder. 



Habits. The Porgy prefers deep and clear Avaters, with rocky bottoms, 

 though it is often found in waters of a very diiferent character ; it feeds on 

 various kinds of shell-fish, and parts of smaller fish are also not unfrequently 

 found in its stomach. 



Geographical Distribution. The Porgy is found along our coast at all 

 seasons of the year, though it is most abundant in June and July ; its southern 

 limit on the Atlantic border is Cape Florida, and its northern is in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Cape Cod, it being very abundant in the Vineyard Sound. Dr. Storer 

 says, attempts have been made to introduce this animal into Massachusetts Bay, 

 near Boston, but with little success. But it is possible that it may in time become 

 accustomed to those waters ; for he observes, — " Within a few years small num- 

 bers have appeared north of the Cape, and are now yearly captured at Wellfleet 

 and Sandwich." 



General Remarks. This animal was first described by Linnaeus as the Sparus 

 argyrops, and his specific name has been retained by all the best ichthyologists 

 since his time. 



