62 



of all the fins. Very small naked furrows may be perceived 

 with a lens, traversing the surface, and separating the spiny 

 prickles into minute patches or plates. Depth of body about 

 two-fifths of the total length, (without caudal.) The lower 

 jaw of the moderately produced snout is longest, and armed 

 with eight thin flattened teeth, of which those in front are 

 long and large, with emargiued edges ; the teeth in the upper 

 jaw are smaller, flat and lanceolate. Eyes large, lateral ; 

 they are placed immediately beneath the dorsal spine and at 

 some distance below the upper profile. Branchial aperture 

 obliqr.e and linear. Nostrils single, oblong, and placed 

 nearly on the plane of the upper margin of the orbits. The 

 dorsal spine is rather feeble, above the middle of the orbit ; 

 it has a small membrane attached to the posterior portion of 

 its base, with a furrow behind it for its reception, when it is 

 recumbent. Like the cat-fish, this spine becomes fixed at the 

 will of the animal. The second dorsal is long and low. 

 Pectorals short, broad and rounded, placed beneath the eyes. 

 The anal fin corresponds in shape and size with the dorsal, 

 but extends behind it. The tail is oblong, liuear, compressed, 

 supporting a caudal fin composed of robust rays, of which 

 the central and lateral ones are longest, thus producing a 

 double emergination on its boarder. Chin, lips sides and be- 

 neath bluish white ; the remaining parts of the body of a 

 rich orange-yellow. Mai'gins of pectoral, dorsal and anal 

 fins edged with dusky. Length, 18 inches. 



Fin-rays :—D. 1, 36 ; P. 12 ; Y. ; A. 39 ; C. 12. 



Balisies auraniiaciis, Mitch. Lit. & Phil. Trans. New York, 

 L p. 468, pi. 6, fig. 1. 



Blonocanilms aurardiacus, DeKay, New York Faun. Fish, p. 

 333, ph 57, fig. 186; Storer, Mem. Am. Acad. VIII, 1861, p. 

 423, pi. 34, fig. 3. 



This fish is not uncommon in the southern part of the 

 Chesapeake Bay. 



Acad. Coll. (Smidt Isl.) 



