103 



It is quite mimeroiis in the bays alon^ the oeean coast, and 

 an excellent article of food. It feeds, like Pogonias chromis, 

 on molluscous and crustaceous animals. 



Acad. Coll. 



XXIX— SPARIDS:. 



ARCHOSAllGUS, Gill. 



A. probatocephaius. (Waidb.) Gill. 



The Sheepshsad, 



Nearly oval in form, comju-csscd, thicker and nearly 

 straight at the belly; thinner and greatly arched along the 

 back, with its greatest elevation opposite the sixth dorsal 

 spine. The head is large, compressed, elevated, full between 

 the prominent orbits, and with a narrow, rounded snout. 

 The head is dusky above, often Avith a bronzed or greenish 

 tint; body silver-grey above, shining silvery-white on the 

 sides, and marked with seven transverse, bluish-black bars. 

 Total length, two leet. 



Fin-rays:— D. 12.12; P. IG; V. 1.5; A. 3.11; C. 17. 



Sj^arus ovis, Mitch. Trans. Lit. t*C- Phil. Soc. New York, 

 I, p. 392, pi. 2, fig. 5. 



Sargus ovis, Cuv. & Val. VI, p. 53; Storer, Report, p. 36; 

 DeKay, New York Fauna, Fish, p. 89, pi. 8, fig. 23; Holbr. 

 Ichth. S. Car. p. 54, pi. 8, fig. 2; Guenther, I, p. 447. 



Frequents the oyster localities of all parts of Chesapeake 

 Bay, but is now more common along our south-eastern coun- 

 ties, where it goes in small numbers to feed on the animals 

 of the oyster bars; for the same reason wrecks of old vessels, 

 on which barnacles and shells abound, are lavorite resorts. 



The fishermen of the lower part of the Eastern Shore go 

 out in boats at night, and by the light of a pine knot or 

 torch, strike them with a gafi:', as they remain quietly bal- 

 anced near the bars. In this way a single fisherman will 

 sometimes capture as many as twenty in a single trip, and 

 the specimens of which will weigh from 10 to 25 pounds. 

 P. R. U. 



Acad. Coll. S. I. 



