THE LA FA > 7 .777.' f'lSlf. 241 



bands running ov.-r the side ..f the head. :iiui some cnr\.-d bands jiassini: along the liody fn>m 

 the back to the tail. Tl.i- iM. is f,..m-l in the Caribbean seas. 



CLOSELY allied to these creatures is a rather remarkable fish, called scientifically Pogonia* 

 ekroinix, and more |H>|)iilarly known hy tli> mime of Hi . \I:HKD DRUM-FISH 



This till.- is gix.-n t,> tin- li.-h on account of the j*-culiar sounds produced by tin- fish, which 

 are thought to U-ar some resemblance to the beating of a drum. 'I'hf sound is api>arentl\ | m 



duc.-d Ix.tli while ill. Us), I- imm.-i-s.-.l and after its removal fri.in ill.- water, and |.fobabl\ >!, 

 ari-.niiit of tin- sound conducting powers of the water, the hearer finds great difficulty in refer- 

 ring the sir. nire n,,ises to any [.articular s]Nt. These lisli do not seem to thrive well in fresh 

 water, as th-- drummim; was iiu aiiabU found to cease as soon us the boat in' uhic-h tin- 

 . ,1,-v-i \.-r- u. -iv .-ill in:: h:n I I. -ft tli-- --:i .--.a-! :ml nl-ii-<l a ri\.-i. It i- :i nat i\ of th-- N-.ilh 

 Ain.-ri.-an co;ists, ;iin| i- know! to Utnd M f.ir --utli :i- l-'lm-ida. 



noi-\ ti-h U \\--ll kn-i\\n un-l.-r th-- till-- "f M.\i-i:r. tin- -tnnitr-- -ound> |.i.Hlnc.-d 

 by this species having been heard from a depth of on- hitndnMl mid t\v<-nty f.--t. 



In one instance, perhaps in many others. th- nov.-l :i<-roin|ilishiiicnt lias 1-<1 to the destruc- 

 tion of its possessors, th.- tish.-nn.-n having l---n dir.-.-t.-d hy tin- sounds to tin- \\hi-rfiiboiit8 of 

 the utterers, and inclosed them in tln-ir nets. The flesh of the Maigre is thought to be pecu- 

 liarly excellent, the h.-ail and shoulders IM-UH; held in the greatest estimation. 



It is a rather large fi.sh, seldom measuring less than a yard in length, and often attaining 

 nearly double those dimensions, and is in consequence extremely valuable to the fisherman. 

 Although at one time it might U- captured with toleraMe fn^piency <>n the coast of Fnnice. 

 and now and then mi more northern Kuro]teaii shores, it is now v.-ry -rai--,-. having shifted its 

 lix-alities, and being found most plentifully on the southern shores of the Mediterranean. 

 There it seems to be hatched and to remain until it attains nearly adult age. when it crosses to 

 the northern side of that sea, and is there found to be of considerable dimensions. 



THE BLACK COKVIXA of the Mediterranean (Corvina niyra) is allied to the maigre, and is 

 scarcely less celebrated than that ti-h for the excellence of its flesh. 



This fish is not exclusively a marine species, but frequents salt lakes and ponds, and, 

 though it hovers about the mouths of lartr.- rivers, probably for the purfioseof feeding on the 

 many animal and vegetable substances which are borne by their currents into the sa, does not 

 appear to ascend their streams. In general ap]>earaiice it is not unlike the maigre, and is often 

 sold in the markets under that name. 



THE SQUETEAOPE, or WEAK-FISH of North America (Oynotcion regale) is another of the 

 noisy fishes, producing dull sounds like those of a drum. It is plentiful about New York, 

 and is captured in large quantities for the table. The name of Weak-fish is attributable 

 to two causes, the on.- that when ho, .Red it makes but a feeble resistance, and the other 

 that its flesh is popularly supjossd to be weakening to those who habitually live upon it. 

 It is a useful species, for it not only affords delicate food, but its swimming-bladder can be 

 made into isinglass which is said to l>e in no way inferior to that of the sturgeon. On account 

 of its spotted skin, the French of New Orleans call it by the name of Trout. 



It is a member of the family 8rhrnid<r, the Croakers, which number one hundred and 

 twenty-five species, included in twenty-five genera. The species are all carnivorous ; and 

 most reach a large size. 



A genus embraces what are called Fresh -water Drums. 



The Bio DRUM (Pogonicu chromis) inhabits from Cape Cod to Florida. A peculiar 

 drumming sound is heard from it. Some fine ones, three feet in length, were kept in Mr. 

 Coup's Aquarium, and proved of great interest to visitors. 



LAFAYETTE FISH (Stromateu* triacanthus). This is a species which made its ap|M>arance, 

 M was supposed, for the first time, in great numbers in the Long Island Sound and adjacent 

 waters, at the time Lafayette made his last visit to the country, in 1824. Its habit is to reap- 



