FISHES OF NEW YORK 845 



sticklebacks in structure, but with prolonged snout and different 

 yentral fins. A single genus, with three species. 



The bony shields, characteristic of this genus, are the 

 following: 



1 A narrow strip along the median line of the back behind 

 the skull (confluent neural spines). 



2 The pair of broader lateral doirsal shields are peculiar bones, 

 separated processes of the occipital bone. These shields are the 

 longest, provided anteriorly with a ridge, which is prolonged 

 and extends far backward between the muscles of the back. This 

 ridge is flexible, and does not interfere with the lateral move- 

 ments of the fish; it appears to serve as a base for the attach- 

 ment of muscular fibers. 



3 The nari'ow shield on the side is the postclavicle, its pos- 

 terior part being dilated and fixed to the lateral dorsal shields. 



4 The ventral shields are the interclavicles; their posterior 

 half is broadest, much pitted infeiiorly; they are narrower before 

 the middle, leaving a free lanceolate space between them, and 

 are again a litt'e widened anteriorly, where they join the 

 clavicle and urohyal. These plates extend as far backward as 

 the ankylosed vertebrae. (After Jordan and Evermann) 



173 Fistularia tabacaria Linnaeus 



Trumpet Fish 



Fistularia tabacaria Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 312, 1758; De Kay, N. Y. 

 J^auna, Fishes, 233, 1842; Stoker, Syn. Fish. N. A. 191, 1846; Gun- 

 THEE, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. Ill, 529, 1861; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull, 16, 

 U. S. Nat. Mus. 389, 1883; Bean; Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 146, 18-88; 19th 

 Rept. Commrs. Fish. N. Y. 273, 1890; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, 

 U. S. Nat. Mus. 757, 1896. 



Fistularia neoboracensis Mitchill, Trans. Lit. iS: Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 437, 

 pi. Ill, fig. 8, 1815. 



Fistularia serrata De Kay, N. Y. Fauua, Fishes, 232, pi. 35, fig. 113, 1842, 

 Massachusetts; Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 140, pi. XXV, fig. 1, 1867; 

 GooDE & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 4, 1S79, Rockport Mass., not of 

 CuviER, Regne Anim. ed. 1, 349, 1817. 



Body greatly depresised, elongate, its depth about one thirty- 

 fourth of its length to base of caudal and only about two thirds 

 of its width. The middle caudal rays arc jjroduced into a thread- 



