266 FAMILY OF THE SCIENIDiE. 



SCIENID^. 



THE LAPAYETTE. 



SEA CHUB. 



Leiostomus Ohliquus — Lac e pe de. 



This is a beautiful and exquisitely-flavoured little fish, which 

 properly belongs to the southern waters, being very common on 

 the coasts of Florida, where it is much prized both as a sporting 

 fish and as a delicacy. 



New York is probably its northern limit, and in the New 

 York waters it is a rare visitant, though it appears at times in 

 extraordinary abundance. 



One of the seasons of its most remarkable frequency happen- 

 ing to be simultaneous with the visit of Lafayette to America, it 

 thus obtained its common name by general consent, it never 

 having been observed previous to that date, and so taken for a 

 new fish, though it had in truth been defined long before by 

 Dr. Mitchil, who designated it Mugil Ohliquus. 



Its colour is greyish white, with fifteen or sixteen darker grey 

 bars, more or less, pointing obhquely forward, those nearer the 

 tail more vertical; pupils black, irides yellow, fins pale yellow, 

 the dorsal and anal finely spotted with black. There is a round 

 spot of dark brown on the lateral line above the pectorals. 



