2— T. ovatus. 



Short Pompano. 



Body very much compressed, almost circuhir, scaleless. — 

 The lateral line moderately iipcurved, and thence straight to 

 the tail, not concurrent with the outline of the hack. Facial 

 outline hroadly concave; head projecting forward, Avith a 

 hlunt snout. Eyes large; teeth scarcely perceptihle. Pec- 

 torals acuminate; caudal deeply forked; seven free spines be- 

 fore the dorsal and three before the anal. Dusky greenish 

 above, silvery white on the belly, with clouds along the sides, 

 and metallic reflections beneath. Length, 2 to 3 inches. 



Fin-rays:— D. 7, I'J; P. 1!); V. 1, 5; A. 3, 19; C. 18. 



Gasterosteus ovatus, L. Syst. Nat. I, p, 490. 



Centronotus ovalis, Lacep III, p. 309, 316. 



Traclignotus spinosus, DeKay, New York Fauna, Fishes, 

 p. 117, pi. 19, fig. 53, (bad.) 



Liclda spinosa, Baird, Nintli Smitlison. Hep. p. 336. 



Doliodon spinosv.Sy Girard, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad., 

 1858, p. 168. 



This species belongs to those Carangidce, which inhabit the 

 seas of both hemispheres. It is found on the Atlantic coast 

 of tropical and temperate America, crossing the ocean to the 

 west coast of Africa, Indian ocean and Archipelago to the 

 coast of Australia. In Maryland it inhabits many parts of 

 Chesapeake Bay, and in the Academy are specimens from tlie 

 Potomac Ptiver near Matthias' Point, and St. Mary's River. 



XXVII— STROMATEIDH. 



POROXOTUS, Gill. 



P. triacanthus. 



, Short-finned Harvest-fish, or Three-spined 



Body elliptical, much compressed ; its height nearly onc- 

 lialf of its length. Scales small. The lateral line is scaly, 

 and nearly concurrent with the back ; besides this there is a 

 counterpart of the lateral line, but curved in an opposite di- 

 rection, and between this and the true lateral line is a third 

 line ; both are without scales. Brilliant metallic green, blue 

 and golden. Deep blue on the back, and obscurely mottled 

 in living specimens. Length, 7 to 9 inches. 



