FAMILY LABRIDZ. 175 
GENUS TAUTOGA. Mutchill, Valenciennes. 
Jaws with a double row of teeth. Opercle and preopercle without spines or denticulations, 
and with few or no scales. 
Oss. This genus was first named by Dr. Mitchill in his Report antecedent to his Memoir, 
and subsequently adopted and characterized by M. Valenciennes.* It comprises at present 
six species from the Indian ocean, the Red sea, the coast.of Norway, and the shores of the 
United States. But one species has yet been observed on the coast of New-York. 
« 
THE NEW-YORK TAUTOG. 
TAUTOGA AMERICANA. 
PLATE XIV. FIG. 39. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 
Labrus, Black-fish at New-York. Scua@prr, Beob. Vol. 8, p. 156. 
L. americanus. Bu. Scun, p. 261. 
Tautoga niger. Mircui1i, Report in part, p. 23. 
Labrus tautoga. Ip. Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. York, Vol. 1, p. 399. 
The Tautog, L. Americanus. StTorER, Fishes of Massachusetts, p. 76. 
Le Tautogue noir, Cuv. et Vat. Hist. des Poiss. Vol. 13, p. 293. 
Characteristics. Bluish black, with irregular darker blotches and bands. The soft rays of 
the dorsal fin elevated. Scales small. Length six to eighteen inches. 
Description. Body elongate, compressed, and highest just before the dorsal fin. Length 
of the head to the total length as one to four nearly. Frontal outline arched from the origin 
of the dorsal outline to the snout; the dorsal outline rather straight along the fin to the soft 
rays. Scales small, thin, adherent; very small on the summit of the head, and upper part 
of the opercle and preopercle ; others on the membrane of the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. 
The scales on the body are plaited behind, minutely striated ; exposed surface very small, 
minutely punctate with black. Lateral line slightly curved, and nearly concurrent with the 
line of the back, going off straight through the centre of the tail. Nostrils double ; the pos- 
terior largest, oval, slightly in front of the orbit, and in a line with its upper plane; the an- 
terior small and tubular. Eyes moderate, and about two diameters apart. Preopercle large, 
with a few scales; its angle rounded. Opercle very large, emarginated above, and witha 
wide membrane. Branchial rays five. Lips thick and very fleshy ; the lower jaw slightly 
shortest. Teeth conic, robust, particularly in front; a few forming an imperfect series 
behind. 
The dorsal fin commences nearly above the branchial aperture, and in advance of the base 
of the pectorals; the spinous portion low, its height about one-fifth of the depth of the body, 
* “Jai employé, i l’exemple de Mitchill, le nom qui se terminait, par une heureuse euphonie, en une désinence latine, pour 
“ faire connaitre un nouveau genre de la famille,” ete. (Cuv. et Vau. Hist. Nat. des Poissons, Vol. 13, p. 292.) 
