GENERAL DESCKIPTION. 265 



more or less slightly bronzedj the edges of every scale are much 

 darker than the prevailing colour, which gives the character of a 

 black net-work on a bluish ground to the whole surface of the 

 fish. The fins, excepting the pectoral, are pale blue; the dorsal 

 and anal more and less distinctly spotted with a darker shade of 

 the same colour. 



The body is oblong and compressed ; the scales are of an 

 oblong form, covering the opercula and extending high up on 

 the dorsal ; the pre-operculum is distinctly toothed along its 

 entire margin, the operculum has a large spine on it, and another 

 above ; the teeth are like velvet pile on all the bones, those on 

 the outer edges of the jaws the largest. 



The dorsal fin has ten low spinous, and eleven much more 

 elevated soft rays ; the pectorals have eighteen soft rays ; the 

 veutrals, one spine and five soft rays ; the anal, three spines and 

 seven soft rays ; the caudal, trilobed, consisting of eighteen soft 

 rays. 



This fine fish is known by a great number of provincial titles ; 

 among others. Dr. Dekay mentions the trivial names oi Black 

 Harry and HanahiUs. 



It is a bold and free biter, and is one of the principal objects 

 of pursuit by those who join in steamboat excursions to what 

 are called the sea banks, oif the port of New York, in the process 

 of which they are often taken in considerable numbers. 



