330 



AMERICAN CAME FISHES. 



to nearly opposite posterior border of eye. Teeth in upper 

 jaw in a broad villiform band; an outer series of large, wide-set 

 conical teeth. Teeth of lower jaw in one row, a distinct canine 

 on each side of symphysis; villiform teeth on vomer; pala- 

 tines and tongue. Lateral line with a wide arch, its length 

 three-fourths that of straigtit part; plates not covering all of 

 straight part. Dorsal spines short, rather stout; procumbent 

 spine obsolete. Gill-rakers stout, not very long, 15 below 

 angle. Occipital keel sharp. Eye not very large, longer 

 than snout; 4-in. head. 



THE LADY-FISH OR BONE FISH ALBULA VULPES (GOODE), 



ALBULA CONORYHNCHUS (GUNTHER). 



Pectoral falcate, longer than head. Breast naked, with a 

 small patch of scales in front of ventrals only. Caudal lobes 

 equal. Head 3^; depth 2h; Lat. I. (scutes) about 30. D. 

 VIII — I, 20; A. II — I, 17. "Cape Cod to West Indies, 

 common southward." 



But a single species known, according to Jordan and Gil- 

 bert, and found in all warm seas, and very extensively dis- 

 tributed — in the West Indies, the coasts of North and South 

 America, the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and on the coast 

 of Japan, according to Professor Goode. 



In the Bermudas it is considered good eating, but on the 

 Florida coast it seems to be a mass of bones and fat. To 

 the angler, however, the Ladyfish affords more sport than 

 any other species on the southern coast. 



No sooner is it hooked, than it begins to throw itself from 

 the water in successive and lofty leaps, then darting round 

 and round the boat, under it and over it, till exhausted, or 

 until it escapes by casting out the hook, or cutting the line 

 with its sharp labials. The mouth being tender, the hook 

 does not take a firm hold, and one-half of the number hooked 

 usually escape. I know of no fish which equals it in activity; 

 even the Grilse, or the Land-locked Salmon make fewer 

 leaps and are less active in play. Like tiie Cavalli, it makes 

 its appearance with the first warm weather, in schools, feed- 



