NATURAL HISTORY. 255 



and transferred it to its proper genus Pomotis. I have found it to be 

 quite common here during the cokler months of the year. 



It is a very difficult matter to obtain any satisfactory information 

 respecting the h)calities in and the circumstance under which the 

 various fishes are caught. The dealers of the markets purchase the 

 fishes from others. The true fishermen, whose business is restricted 

 to the catching of them, and having but little of that intelligent 

 curiosity which would lead them to inquire into the habits and the 

 peculiarities of the animals which they make it their employment 

 to buy and sell, do not ask any questions concerning them, and 

 cannot therefore dispense any knowledge to others ; with them it is 

 sufficient to know in what State or on what coast the fish is caught, 

 and even in this respect we cannot be certain that the information is 

 always correct. The exact locality is rarely known. I have therefore 

 seldom particularized the places in which they are caught. _ 



My observations do not always agree in all respects with the re- 

 marks made by the author of the New York Fauna respecting the 

 appearance and departure of the migratory fishes occurring on the 

 coast of this State. 



For the sake of convenience the classification, and generally the 

 nomenclature used by Dr. DeKay in his New York Fauna, is adopted. 

 In those cases where the species noticed are placed in different genera 

 from those to which they were referred by their original describers, I 

 have enclosed the name of the author of the specific name in paren- 

 theses, and that of the naturalist who transferred it to the genus 

 adopted in the catalogue after it in open space. For convenience of 

 reference, I have mentioned the pages where the species are described 

 in Dr. DeKay's New York Fauna. 



I am fully aware of the imperfectness of this catalogue, and had 

 hoped to have made a more full one, but various causes have deterred 

 at present. I may, perhaps, at some future time, make out a more 

 complete and extended list, in the hope, however, that this will prove 

 of some small service to you. 



DSSCRIPTIVE LIST OF FISHES OF THE NEW YORK MARKET. 

 PERCIDAE, Cuv. 



1. Perca Flavescens (Mit.) Cuv. and Vol. 

 DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, p. 3, fig. 1. 

 The yellow perch is sent to the markets in considerable numbers 

 and quite regularly from the beginning of September till the end of 

 April. It is sold at from eight to ten cents per pound. 



This species, as far as I can learn, is not very abundant in any of 

 the streams in the vicinity of this city. 



2. Labrax lineatus, (Block) Cuv. and Vol. 

 DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, p. 7, fig. 3. 

 The striped bass is common with us during the whole year, but is 

 "brought to market in finer condition, as well as in larger quantities, 

 in the winter and earlier spring months ; I have then seen individuals 



