Slorer's Synopsis of the Fishes of North America. 83 



scaleless, and of a purple color. Abdomen white. A large, semicircular scale, of a beauti- 

 ful purple color, at the commencement of the lateral line ; between this scale and the outer 

 ancle of a naked space, at the posterior angle of the eye, a band, half an inch or more in 

 width, of smaller scales than those of the body, passes obliquely upwards to the an- 

 terior portion of the ridge of the back. A short recumbent spine in front of the dorsal fin. 

 The second and third dorsal rays often filamentous. 



D.24. P. 15. V. 6. A. 15. C 17. Length, 8 to 12 inches. 



Massachusetts, Storer. Connecticut, Ayres. New York, Mitchill, Cuv., Dekay. 



South Carolina, Lin. 



Sparusargyrops, Lin., Syst. Nat., Gmel., p. [277. 



" " Silver-eyed Sparus, Shaw's Gen. Zoo'l., iv. p. 426. 



Labrus versicolor, Big Porgee of New York, Mitchill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., I. p. 401, pi 3, 



fig. 7. 

 Le Pagre ceild'argenl, Pagrus argyrops, Cuv. etVAL., vi. p. 164. 



" " Big Porgee, Scapaug, Scup, Stoker's Report, p. 33. 



" " Big Porgee, Dekay's Report, p. 95, pi. 9, fig. 25. 



" " Porgee, Atbes, Boat. Journ. Nat. Hist., IV, p. SCO. 



GENUS IV. PAGELLUS, Cuv. 

 Teeth nearly resembling those of Pagrus, but the molars, also in two rows, 

 are smaller ; the conical teeth in front are slender and more numerous ; and 

 the physiognomy is different, in consequence of a more elongated muzzle. 



1. Pagellus calamus, Cuv. 

 Forehead and neck more elevated than in any other species of this genus. Reddish ; sub- 

 orbital spotted with bluish points. About twenty-two rows of sixty-five scales upon each 

 side. In the upper jaw are two straight, pointed teeth, stouter than the others ; molars in 

 three rows upon the upper jaw, and in two rows upon the lower jaw, the inner row stoutest. 

 This species derives its name from the first anal spine, which resembles a quill cut into a pen. 

 D. 12-12. P. 11. V. 1-5. A. 3-11. C. 17. Length, 1 foot. 

 Caribbean Sea, Cuv. 



Le Pagel a plume, Pagellus calamus, Cuv. ct Val., VI. p. 206, pi. 152. 



FAMILY V. MENIDiE. 



The individuals of this family are similar in their forms to the Sparoides, 

 but they are distinguished from that family by their very protractile mouth, 

 and, in some instances, by the presence of teeth on the vomer, or denticula- 

 tions on the preoperculum. 



