80 NEW-YORK FAUNA, 
GENUS POGONIAS. Lacépéde, Cuvier. 
Two dorsals as in the preceding, or one deeply divided. A series of cirrt or beards beneath 
the lower jaw. 
Ons. The fishes of this genus are remarkable for their size, and the noise which they 
produce under water. Scarcely any two observers agree respecting the nature of this noise. 
The fishermen compare it, when produced by large scholes, and heard in a still night, to the 
distant sound of drums, and hence the popular name. Scheepff describes it as a hollow rum- 
bling sound, and Mitchill speaks of it as a grunting (p. 405), and at p. 411 as a drumming 
noise. When freshly taken from the water, it sounds as if two stones were rubbed together. 
The cause of this noise is yet unexplained. Cuvier seems inclined to believe it connected in 
some way with the large and muscular air-bladder, although he admits that it has no external 
outlet. Iam induced to suspect it to be occasioned by the strong compression of the expanded 
pharyngeal teeth upon each other. 
THE BIG DRUM. 
PoGONIAS CHROMIS. 
Labrus chromis. LINNEvs. 
Sciena id. LACEPEDE et SCHNEIDER. 
Labrus id.  Drum-fish, Scucerrr, Vol. 8, p. 158. 
Mugil gigas. Mrrcuitt, Report in part on Fishes of N. Y. p. 16. 
Sciena fusca, Black Drum. Iv. Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 409. 
S. gigas, Red Drum. Ip. Ib. p. 412. 
Le Grand Pogonias, P,. chromis. Cov. et Vat. Hist. Poiss. Vol, 5, p. 206, 
Characteristics. Large. Brownish bronze, varying from blackish to reddish. Length two 
to four feet. 
Description. Body compressed and deep. Scales large and stout, oblique, with slight 
strie. Mouth protractile. 'T'wo flattened obtuse points on the opercle. ‘Teeth on the jaws 
in a band, numerous, crowded, blunt and subequal. Pharyngeals with large paved teeth. 
Tongue smooth. Nostrils double; the anterior circular; the posterior subovate, and fur- 
nished with a membrane. A row of slender vermicular cirri on each side, and ten or twelve 
irregularly disposed about the chin. Near the chin, among the cirri, are three large pores. 
Branchial rays seven. 
The first dorsal fin with ten stout flattened rays; the first very short, and scarcely apparent 
above the skin; second and third longest, thence gradually diminishing to the last: it is capa- 
ble of being concealed in a furrow. The second dorsal fin rises near the first (according to 
Cuvier, continuous with it); its first ray short and spinous, the other soft and subequal; with 
the rudiment of a furrow for its reception. Pectorals large, pointed; the tips of the ventrals 
not extending beyond the points of the pectorals. Anal fin, with its first spinous ray, exceed- 
