73 



higb, and disappears gradually in the skin near the tip of the 

 tail ; it is composed of flexible, feebly spinous rays. The 

 pectoral fins are broad and obtusely pointed. No trace of 

 ventral fins. About 129 spines, sensible only to the touch, 

 occupy the place of an anal fio. Whole surface silvery. 

 Length, 2 to 3 feet. 



Fin-nays :— D. 135 ; P. 11. 



Trichiurus lepturus, L. Syst. Nat. I, p. 429 ; Bl. Schn. p. 

 517 ; Cuv. & Val. VIII, p. 237 ; Storer, Boston Journ. IV, p. 

 181 ; DeKay, New York Fauna, Fish., p. 109, pi. 12, fig. 35. 



— argenteus, Mitch. Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. New York, 

 I, p. 364. 



This fish seems to be rather rare in Maryland waters. 

 Only two specimens have been taken near Wallops Island, 

 but both good sized. Fishermen, as a rule, seem not to care 

 much about the small fry, that get entangled between the 

 sea-weeds, and many fish, that may be common enough, are 

 not recognized by them at all, or stated to be of uncommon 

 occurrence. 



Acad. Coll. 



XX¥-SCOMBRIDiE. 



ORCYNUS, Cuv. 

 0.8 ecimdi'dor salts. 



American Tunny, Albicore. 



Form elongated, fusiform. The height of the body is 4l\ 

 of the total length ; the length of the head four times. Jaws, 

 when closed, nearly equal. Tongue large and broad. Gape 

 of the mouth very large. Eyes circular. Gill covers smooth, 

 and very large. First dorsal fin with very robust rays ; its 

 first ray long, and from this the rays gradually diminish in 

 length ; this fin, when recumbent, is concealed in a deep 



