040 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Depth of b((lv oiu' roiirth of total length without caudal. 

 Head four elevenths of the same length, rather broad, covered 

 with smooth thin skin; no cirri; a few very small warts between 

 occipital ridges. Caudal peduncle short and slender, its least 

 depth about one sixth length of. head and less than diameter of 

 o\i\ ^[axillary three sevenths as long as head, reaching to 

 below hind margin of pu])il. Sui)raocular and occipital ridges 

 I)rominent, each with a low, bluntish spine; the region between 

 the supraocular spines rather convex, the space before and 

 behind it concave; nasal spines moderate; upper preopercular 

 spine shorti'r than eye, nearly twice length of next spine, about 

 reaching middle of opercle. Eye two thirds as long as snout, 

 one fifth as long as head. Lateral line complete, each pore with 

 a concealed cartilaginous plate; scattered, concealed asperities 

 on skin of sides. Xo trace of slit behind last gill. Dorsal base 

 two thirds as long as head; fourth spine longest, one third as 

 long as head. Base of soft dorsal nearly as long as head; first 

 soft ray as long as the eye; fifth, sixth and seventh rays longest, 

 one third as long as head. Caudal rounded, its middle rays two 

 fifths as long as head. Anal origin under third ray of soft 

 dorsal; anal base three fifths as long as head; longest anal ray 

 nearly one liiird as long- as head. Pectoral reaches to below 

 origin of soft dorsal; ventral to below eighth spine of dorsal. 



I>. IX, IM; A. 10; V. I, 8; P. 15. 



<ii;iyisli ()li\c. uiucli variegated with darker; no distinct paler 

 spots; back and sides with broad, dark irregular bars; all the 

 fins l):iii('d; mandible mottled; belly pale. 



This lit lie sinlpin was known to :Mitchill as the brazen bnll- 

 1m;i.I and also (o De Kay. who said it is freqnently laken with 

 "" li'H.k in Long Islaml Sound, and the harbor of .\ew York. 

 I>.- i\;iv (irs,iil.s it again under ilie nann' (.f (he smooth bri.wed 

 ''"'IIIi'.hI aiMl stales that il is commonly taken with the hook in 

 lupany willi ihr Hat fishes. 



Tlic gnihhy seldom exceeds 5 inches in length. It ranges from 

 "" ''='.v Hi run.lv K. New Jersey and is very common in sea- 

 weeds near shore. The fish has been found moderately abundant' 



