GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 275 



THE BIG DEUM. 



Pogonias Chrcmis — Cuvier. 



THE BANDED DRUM. 



Pogonias Fasciatus — Lace pe de. 



Both of these fisli are so constantly and commonly taken by 

 the bait fisher in shoal salt-water that it would hardly be proper 

 to omit all mention of them in a work of this nature, although 

 except the great size and difficulty of landing the former, and 

 the rapid biting 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 recommend them. 



The geographical range of both these fishes is from Florida to 

 New York, their northern and southern limits being identical. 



They have both deep compressed bodies, large eyes, lateral 

 lines parallel to the dorsal outline, numerous teeth in card-like 

 bands on the jaws, and the pharyngeals furnished 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, respectively, two spines, seven soft rays, and two 

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

 rays. 



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