136 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 
GENUS RHOMBUS.  Lacépéde. 
Head and body compressed. Body covered with minute scales. A small trenchant and 
pointed blade before the vent ; a horizontal partially concealed spine before the dorsal and 
anal fins. 
Oss. This genus had been named Peprilus by Cuvier in the second edition of his Régne 
Animal ; the prior name of Rhombus, given to it by Lacépéde, having escaped his notice. 
This compels us to change the name of Rhombus among the Pleuronectide. It contains five 
species, all from the shores of America. 
THE LONG-FINNED HARVEST-FISH. 
RHOMBUS LONGIPINNIS, 70 ANAL 
PLATE LXXV. FIG. 239. 
Chetodon alepidotus. Lin. Syst. Nat. 
Harvest-fish, Stromateus longipinnis. Mitcutut, Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 366. 
Peprilus alepidotus. Cuvier, Régne Animal, 2d Edition. 
Rhombus longipinnis, Le Rhombe & longue nageoires. Cuv. et Vat. Hist. des Poiss. Vol. 9, p. 401, pl. 274. 
Characteristics. Anterior rays of the dorsal and anal fins more than half the length of their 
respective bases. Length seven inches. 
Description. Form oval. Head and body much compressed ; the facial line descends with 
a curve, which becomes slightly concave above the eyes ; just anterior to the eyes, it sud- 
denly descends, producing a blunt snout. Eyes large, nearer to the snout than to the margin 
of the opercle. Nostrils double, adjacent; the anterior small and round, the posterior verti- 
cally oval. Mouth small; the lower jaw, when extended, longest, but shuts within the 
upper. Scales small, round, and little apparent, particularly on the fins, where they are 
scarcely discernible ; they are wanting on the opercles and the head. Lateral line with large 
scales ; it rises with a broad curve, but is not concurrent with the back. Linneus, who had 
received this fish from Garden of South Carolina, not perceiving the scales, gave it the false 
name of alepidotus. On each jaw, a row of very small slender pointed teeth. Lower edge 
of the opercle concave. Branchial rays seven. 
The dorsal fin commences posterior to the branchial aperture ; the first three rays are 
spinous, the anterior very short, thence successively increasing to the ninth, when they again 
rapidly diminish to the eighteenth, after which they are short and subequal: a short spine or 
blade recumbent in front of this fin. Pectorals long and pointed, with twenty-three rays. 
The vent is placed between two spines, one directed backward, and the other a broad blade 
with its point directed forward in front of the anal fin; this latter fin resembles the dorsal in 
size and shape. Caudal deeply forked. 
Color, “Silvery, with tints of blue, green, and iridescent ; dusky on the head; and with 
“inky patches on the belly towards the tail, which in certain lights appear beautifully red 
“and purple : back bluish, with occasional clouds.” Mitchill. 
