FISHES OF NEW YORK 621 



teriorly on back and belly, never obsolete; sides without cirri. 

 D. 7; A. 6;C. 7; P. 3 6. 



Color darkish olive green on the upper part of the h!.-a<i, body 

 and tail, with a yellowish tinge along the sides. Sides and 

 under surface white. Along the sides from beneath the eye to 

 the caudal fin is an indefinite series of six to eight oblong black 

 blotches, which occasionally take the appearance of transverse 

 bars. De Kay observed some individuals which were nearly a 

 uniform black above. Caudal fin nearly uniform pale, the tip 

 darker. 



The swellfish inhabits the Atlantic coast from Cape Ann to 

 Florida; it grows to a length of 10 inches. In most localities 

 the fish is not eaten, but at Somers Point N. J. certain persons 

 professed to find in it excellent food qualities. De Kay states 

 that the species is scarcely ever eaten in New York. 



This species is known also by the additional names, puffer, 

 blower, eggfish, swelltoad, sucking toad, toadfish (at Somers 

 Point N. J.) It is the puffer and toadfish of Mitchill's Fishes 

 of New York. 



The swellfish is extremely abundant about the eastern end 

 of Long Island, and is caught by hundreds at a time in pound 

 nets during the summer. The writer has taken it at the follow- 

 ing localities in Great South bay: Fire Island inlet, Oak Island 

 beach. Clam Pond cove, Islip, Cherry Grove, Nichols's Point, 

 Blue Point. In Gravesend bay the species is found at all times 

 except during the cold months; it is hardy in captivity, but 

 can not be kept with other fish because of its predatory habits. 



In the vicinity of Woods Hole, according to Dr Smith, it ap- 

 pears about June first, and is abundant during the run of scup. 

 It is common throughout the summer at the head of Buzzards 

 bay. The spawning season is June 1 to 10. From about July 1 

 to October 15, the young, from ^ inch to 1 inch long, are ex- 

 tremely abundant at Woods Hole, frequenting chiefly sandy 

 beaches, where as many as 100 are often taken in one seine 

 haul. The fish leaves as soon as cold weather sets in. 



