346 NEW YORK STATE MUSEIUM 



like filament, which is a little longer than the snout. The snout 

 is greatly prolonged, two and three fourths times as long as the 

 rest of the head. Mouth at the end of the long tube oblique, the 

 lower jaw projecting a distance equal to one third of diameter of 

 eye; upper jaw two thirds as long as postorbital part of head, 

 lower jaw nearly twice as long as upper; eye nearly equal in 

 length to upper jaw, about nine and one half in length of head; 

 snout three and two thirds in total length to caudal base; margin 

 of orbit with thin, sharp points in front and behind; dorsal origin 

 at a distance from tip of snout equal to three times length of 

 snout, base of dorsal slightly longer than eye, longest dorsal ray 

 one fourth the length of snout; anal exactly opposite dorsal, its 

 base equally long, its longest ray also equal to longest dorsal 

 ray; ventrals small on a narrow base, their distance from tip 

 of snout- and end of external caudal rays nearly equal; pectorals 

 short, on a broad base^ their length one half the length of head 

 without the snout; caudal lobes equal, the upper external rays 

 three fifths as long as the head without the snout. D. 14; A. 13; 

 V. 7. 



Reddish brown above, with numerous large, oblong, pale blue 

 spots on the sides and back, arranged in series; under surface of 

 head and belly at least to ventral fins, pale and silvery. 



The fish was known to Dr Mitchill and described by him from 

 a specimen 14 inches long. We are not informed where he ob- 

 tained this example, but it was an individual in the fresh condi- 

 tion. Dr De Kay called it the spotted pipefish and takes his 

 account from the report of Dr Mitchill. 



The trumpet fish is generally common in the West Indies and 

 neighboring seas, where it is said to reach the length of 6 feet. 

 It is occasionally taken as far north as Cape Cod. It is not 

 common in iliat region, and is apparently rare in Great South 

 bay, though three examples were taken at Fire island, Septem- 

 ber 30, and one at Blue Point Lifesaving station, October 7. In 

 Great Egg Harbor bay, N. J. the species is moderately abundant, 

 as the writer seined 25 specimens in August and September 1887. 



The species is interesting on account of its peculiar^ structure, 

 but is without economic value. 



