FAMILY SCOMBRIDA — RHOMBUS. 137 
Length, 7:0. 
Fin rays, D. 3.44; P. 23; A. 4.43; C. 19 3, 
I have had several of these fish in my possession, but their color had vanished, and I 
accordingly employ the description of Mitchill. It is not as common as the succeeding, but 
is equally esteemed for eating. On a drawing of this species, belonging to my friend Dr. 
Holbrook, I find that it is named Rudder-fish at Charleston. As the name given by Linneus 
conveyed an erroneous idea, Cuvier has deemed it proper to adopt the more appropriate name 
given to it by Dr. Mitchill. 
Its present ascertained geographical range is from South-Carolina to the coast of New- 
York. 
THE SHORT-FINNED HARVEST-FISH. 
RHOMBUS TRIACANTHUS. 
PLATE XXVI. FIG. 80. 
Stromateus triacanthus. Prck, Mem. Am. Acad. Vol. 2, part 2, p. 48, pl. 2, fig. 2. 
S. cryptosus. Murcuttt, Report in part, &c. p. 3. 
Cryptous Broad-shiner, S.id. Ip. Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. Y. Vol. 1, p. 365, pl. 1, fig. 3. 
Peprilus id. Cuvier, Régne animal, 2d edition. 
Le Rhombe & fossettes, R. cryptosus. ‘Cuv. et Vai, Hist. des Poiss. Vol. 9, p. 408. 
Three-spined Peprilus, P. triacanthus. STORER, Mass. Report, p. 60. 
Characteristics. More elongated than the preceding ; its anterior dorsal and anal rays slightly 
elevated. Length seven to nine inches. 
Description. Body elliptical, much compressed ; its height one-half of its length nearly. 
Dorsal outline forming the curve of a larger circle than in the preceding, and, like that, suddenly 
descending before the eyes, producing a somewhat truncated snout. Scales small, orbicular, 
caducous. The lateral line scaly, nearly concurrent with the back. Beside this, there is a 
slight depressed line not furnished with scales, proceeding from the origin of the lateral line 
straight through the centre of the tail; and a third similar line originating under the base of 
the pectorals, running nearly concurrent with the abdominal outline, and also terminating on 
the side of the tail: this last may be considered as the counterpart of the lateral line, but 
curved in an opposite direction. They are less obvious after death. Along the back, on each 
side of the base of the dorsal fin, is a series of round holes, the orifices of mucous ducts. 
From fifteen to twenty may be counted in front, but they become gradually effaced behind. 
They have each a slight furrow or depressed line running up to the base of the dorsal fin, and 
parallel with each other. Eyes large. Nostrils double ; the posterior a vertical slit. A 
single series of minute crowded teeth in both jaws. Fine crowded teeth on the pharyngeals. 
Tongue large, spotted, smooth, free. In the esophagus, which is dilated, and surrounded 
by two muscles of considerable size which are separated from each other, the interior is 
covered by long irregular bony processes, disposed in rounded patches, and opposed to each 
Fauna— Parr 4. 18 
