Jordan and Evermann. — Fishes of North America. 965 



441. RHOMBUS, Lac^pede. 

 (Butter-fishes. ) 



Wiombits, LACipfiDE, Hist. Nat. Poiss., 11, 321, 1800, [alepidotiis). 



Peprilit!:, CuviER, Regne Anim., Ed. 2, Vol. II, 21,3,1829, (h»i<jipiuni.t). 



Poronolus, Gill, Cat, Fish. E. Coast N. Amer., 1801, 35, not characterized, (Macan(hnt); Vrov. 



Am. Phil. Soc, xxi, G70. 1884, (diaguosod). 

 Palomela, Jordan & Evermann, ucw subgcniis, Qiahmela). 



Body ovato or suborbicular, strongly compressed, tapering into a slen- 

 der caudal iieduncle, which is not keeled or shielded. Head short, com- 

 pressed, the profile obtuse. Mouth small, terminal, the Jaws siibequal. 

 Premaxillaries not protractile. Jaws each with a single series of weak 

 teeth. Scales very small, cyloid, silvery, loosely inserted, extending on 

 the vertical fins. Opercular bones entire. Gill membranes separate, free 

 from the isthmus ; gill rakers moderate. Lateral line continuous, con- 

 current with the back. Dorsal fin long, more or less elevated in front, 

 preceded by a few indistinct spines — usually one or more procumbent 

 spines in front of dorsal and anal, each of these with a free point both 

 anteriorly and posteriorly; anal fin similar to dorsal, or shorter, usually 

 with three small spines; ventral fins wanting; a single small, sharp 

 spine, attached to the pjibic bone, occupying the place of the ventrals ; 

 pectorals long and narrow; caudal widely forked. Species few, mostly 

 American. This genus differs from Stromateus chiefly in the prominence 

 of the pelvic bone, which projects as a lamina beyond the skin. Species 

 of Stromateus occur in Europe and South America, but none within our 

 limits, (pofifiog, a rhomb or diamond, from the form of the body.) 



RnoMBUs: 

 a. Dorsal and anal fins very high in front, the anterior lobe falcate; body suborbicnlar. 



6. Dorsal rays III, 45, anal rays III, 43. paru, 1363. 



bh. Dorsal rays abont III, 40; anal rays about III, 39. xanthurc^j, 1364. 



aa. Dorsal and anal fins moderately elevated in front, the anterior lobe scarcely falcate. 

 Palometa (Spanish name from Palonia, a dove); 

 <■. Sides of back without conspicuous series of pores above lateral line. 



d. Anal rays III, 45; body ovate, the depth half its length. palometa, 1365. 



dd. Anal rays III, 32 to 39. 



e. Body broad ovate, the depth rather more than half the length; A. Ill, 32. 



MEDIl'!«, 1366. 

 ee. Body elliptical, the depth not half the length; A. Ill, 39. simillimus, 1367. 

 PoRONOTUS (TTopos, pore; cwto?, back): 

 cc. Side of back above lateral line with a series of large, wide-set pores. 



/. Body elliptical, the deptli 2,';, in length; anal ravs III, 37. triacantitus, 1.368. 



Subgenus RHOMBUS. 



1363. RHOMBUS PAUU (Linnwus). 



(Harvest Fish.) 



Head 3 ; depth 1*. D. Ill, 45 ; A. II, 43 : scales about 90 ; vertebrae 

 15 + 15. Body suborbicular, bounded by even curves : mouth very small, 

 oblique; maxillary reaching front of orbit. No pores aloug sides of 

 back. Dorsal and anal fins falcate, the length of their longest rays 



