FISHES OF NEW YORK 345 



sticklebacks in structure, but with prolonged snout and different 

 ventral fins. A single genus, with three species. 



The bony shields, characteristic of this genus, are the 

 following: 



1 A narrow strip along the median line of the back behind 

 the skull (confluent neural spines). 



2 The pair of broader lateral dorsal shields are peculiar bones, 

 separated processes of the occipital bone. These shields are the 

 longest, provided anteriorly with a ridge, which is prolonged 

 and extends far backward between the muscles of the back. This 

 ridge is flexible, and does not interfere with the lateral move- 

 ments of the fish; it appears to serve as a base for the attach- 

 ment of muscular fibers. 



3 The narrow shield on the side is the postclavicle, its pos- 

 terior part being dilated and fixed to the lateral dorsal shields. 



4 The ventral shields are the interclavicles; their posterior 

 half is broadest, much pitted inf eriorly ; they are narrower before 

 the middle, leaving a free lanceolate space between them, and 

 are again a little widened anteriorly, where they join the 

 clavicle and urohyal. These plates extend as far backward as 

 the ankylosed vertebrae. (After Jordan and Evermann) 



173 Fistularia tabacaria Linnaeus 

 Trumpet Fish 



Fistularia tabacaria LINNAEUS, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 312, 1758; DE KAY, X. Y. 

 Fauna, Fishes, 233, 1842; STORER, Syn. Fish. N. A. 191, 1846; GUN- 

 THER, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. Ill, 529, 1861; JORDAN & GILBERT, Bull. 16, 

 U. S. Xat. Mus. 389, 1883; BEAN, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 146, 1888; 19th 

 Kept. Commrs. Fish. N. Y. 273, 1890; JORDAN & EVERMANN, Bull. 47, 

 U. S. Nat. Mus. 757, 1896. 



Fistularia neoboracensis MITCHILL, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 437, 

 pi. Ill, fig. 8, 1815. 



Fistularia serrata DE KAY, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 232, pi. 35, fig. 113, 1842, 

 Massachusetts; STORER, Hist. Fish. Mass. 140, pi. XXV, fig. 1, 1867; 

 GOODE & BEAN, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 4, 1879, Rockport Mass., not 'of 

 CUVIER, Regne Anim. ed. 1, 349, 1817. 



Body greatly depressed, elongate, its depth about one thirty- 

 fourth of its length to base of caudal and only about two thirds 

 of its width. The middle caudal rays are produced into a thread- 



