GENUS SAURUS. 183 



Habits. The EIojjs saurus approaches the shores of Carolina in the months 

 of June and July, and remains until November ; it feeds on smaller fish, whole 

 skeletons of which are sometimes found in its stomach. 



Geographical Distribution. This animal is found on our coast only from 

 New Orleans to New York ; though its range, according to Valenciennes, is much 

 more extensive, it being common not only to the American and European shores 

 of the Atlantic, but to the Pacific and Indian Seas. 



General Remarks. This fish was first accurately described by Linnaeus, from 

 specimens furnished him by Dr. Garden. 



FAMILY SALMONID^.— Cimer. 



Characters. Body more or less scaly ; two dorsal fins, the anterior with articu- 

 lated rays ; posterior small, adipose, and without rays ; ccecal appendages numer- 

 ous ; air-bladder more or less developed ; great variation in the armature of the 

 jaws ; branchial rays vary much in number. 



GENUS SAVRVS. — Cuvier. 



Characters. Body elongated; mouth large; inter-maxiUary long, rounded, 

 and ending in a point; superior maxillary small, concealed, or confounded with 

 the inter-maxiUary; teeth numerous, conical, pointed, more or less recurved, or 

 sometimes lanceolate in both jaws; palate-bones, tongue, hyoid and pharyngeal 

 bones aimed with smaller teeth ; branchial rays eighteen. 



