444 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



abruptly. The depth of the body is contained two and one third 

 times in its length; the length of the head is contained four 

 times in that of the body. Dorsal and anal falcate, their lobes 

 reaching when depressed nearly to the middle of the fin; pec- 

 toral reaching to opposite the vent, (jill rakers short; slender 

 in the young, becoming thick in the adult. Length IS inches. 

 D.VI-I, 25; A. 11-1,23. 



Uniform bluish above, sides silvery, golden in the adult, with- 

 out bands, fins plain silvery or dusky. 



This fish has no other name on our east coast except the- 

 southern variation of pompeynose. In Great South bay the 

 name butterfish is applied to it because it is confounded with 

 the 1' o r o n o t u s t r i a c a n t h u s , to w^hich the name 

 proiM?rly belongs. Mitchill described it under the name thorn- 

 backed grunt, a name not now in use. The pompano ranges on 

 our coast from Cape Cod to Florida, the adults rarely or never 

 coming into northern waters, but the young are taken in 

 variable numbers every year. At Woods Hole they sometimes 

 occur in considerable numbers, and they have been taken in great 

 abundance in Great Egg Harbor bay, but not recently. In 

 Great South bay, in 1890, only a single young individual was 

 secured at Oak Island beach on the last day of September. It 

 occurs occasionally also on the Pacific coast. Dr De Kay, ii 

 1842, mentioned it as an exceedingly rare species on the Nev 

 York coast. His description was based on a specimen taken ff 

 Sandy Hook more than 20 years before. In 1898 young speci- 

 mens were found in moderate numbers at Oak Island be.'ch^ 

 Great Sonlli Iciy^ September 14, and on the east side of ^li'e 

 Islnnd 1m;i(|i September 16. The young are summer and fall 

 visitors in ( ".rax cscnd bay. 22 individuals were placed in atank 

 in Auirust 1897. and >iii'\v rapidly till the temperature f the 

 water icll bcluw 00 F in November. During this montl all of 



tlieiii died. 



'IMic s|M'(ifs rraclics tiic Icuglli <'!' i!0 inches. It is ore of the 

 finesi of (Mir luod lishes. 



