iJENEKAL DESCRIPTION. 



Tin: I'K. Dia m. 



I'lKji'ilHlJ l hr'^nin — CUVIEH. 



TIM. DA.XDKD l)ia M. 



I'lxjonms Pasciatm — Laclpkde. 



HoTii of these fish arc so constiuitly and coramonly tnkcn by 

 the biiit fisher in shoal salt-wator tliat it would hardly bo i)r(»|)C'r 

 to omit all mention of them in a work of tliis nature, althout^h 

 except the jjreat size and diflieulty of landiii}; the former, and 

 the rapid bitinj^ of the latter variety — if they be indeed distinct 

 species, which I think Dr. Dekay has satisfactorily established 

 them to be — they have little or nothing to reconnncnd them. 



The geographical range of both these fishes is from I'iorida to 

 New York, tlnir northern and soutlirrn limits being identical. 



Tliey have both deep compressed bodies, large eyes, lateral 

 lines parallel to the dorsal outline, numerous teeth in rard-likc 

 bands on the jaws, and the pharyngeals furnishcil with large 

 hard grinders. 



They have both double dorsals, the former with nine, the 

 latter with ten spines in the first — both with one spine and 

 twenty-two soft rays in the second. Pectorals, respectively, 

 eighteen and twenty ; ventrals of both, one spine and five soft 

 rays ; anals, rcsi)cctively, two spines, seven soft rays, ami two 

 spines, five soft rays ; caudals, seventeen, and fifteen branched 

 rays. 



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