FISHES OF NEW YORK 439 



When extremely young, the preoperculum is armed at the 

 .angle with three large spines, and smaller ones above and below. 

 The spinous dorsal is developed as a perfect fin, and teeth are 

 present on the jaws and palatine arch. In this stage the species 

 lias never been described by previous naturalists, and conse- 

 quently has received no name, as the corresponding stage of 

 Xaucrates (Nauclerus) has. At an early period the 

 preopercular spines are absorbed into the substance of the pre- 

 operculum and disappear. The spinous dorsal and the teetti are 

 still retained. In this condition it remains for some time, the 

 spinous dorsal, however, gradually losing its relative size, while 

 the soft vertical fins increase. In this stage the species belongs 

 to the genus Doliodon of Girard. At a later period the 

 membrane connecting the dorsal spines has become obsolete, 

 and the species then represents the genus Trachynotus, 

 as understood by Cuvier and Valenciennes, and others. Finally, 

 in old age, the teeth of the jaws, palate, and pharyngeal bones 

 have fallen out, and the lobes of the dorsal, anal and caudal 

 fins attain their greatest extension and become pointed. This 

 final stage has been made known by Holbrook under the new 

 generic name ofBothrolaemus. Gill 1 



The pseudobranchiae also disappear in old specimens. Some 

 of the species of Trachinotus (carolinus etc.) are 

 among the most highly valued of our food fishes. Most of them 

 are howeA*er not of superior quality. 



220 Trachinotus falcatus (Linnaeus) 

 Sound Pompano; Ovate Pompano 



J^abrus falcatus LINNAEUS, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 284, 1758, America. 

 The Spinous Dory MITCHILL, Trans. Lit & Phil. Soc. X. Y. I, pi. VI, fig. 10, 



no description. 



Zeus spinosus MITCHILL, Am. Month. Mag. II, 246, Feb. 1818. 

 Trachinotus spinosus DE KAY, X. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 117, pi. 19, fig. 53, 1842, 



Xew York harbor. 

 Trachinotus rlioiubokles CUVIER & VALENCIENNES, Hist. Xat. Poiss. VIII, 



407, 1831. 



Trachinotus fnscus CUVIEE & VALENCIENNES, op. cit. VIII, 410, 1831, Brazil. 

 Trachi/notus rhomboides JORDAN & GILBERT, Bull. 16, U. S. Xat. Mus. 974, 



1883; BEAN. Bull. U. S. F. C. VII. 139, pi. Ill, fig. 5, 1888, young. 

 Trachi/notus ovatus GUNTHER, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 481. 1860, (in part, not 



Gasterostevs ovatus of LINNAEUS); JORDAN & GILBERT. Bull. 16, U. S. 



Xat. Mus. 442, 1883; BEAN, 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. X. Y. 255, pi. IX, 



fig. 12, 1890. 



- 'Phila. Acad. Xat. Sci. Proc. 1862, p. 440. 



