44 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



wards, but not beyond the opercle. Opercle emarginate above, and ending in two points ; 

 the superior directed obUquely upwards ; the lower scarcely longer, and is directed back- 

 wards. Preopercle flat, narrow above, enlarged beneath, with a slight ridge directed back- 

 wards, and ending in a small spine underneath the opercle. Mouth moderate, with a band 

 of low even moderate teeth on the jaws, and a small transverse band on the anterior portion 

 of the vomer. Tongue smooth. Lateral line nearly straight, unarmed, bifurcating near the 

 tail. It is crossed by numerous short straight elevated lines. Scales over the body, small, 

 oval, ciliate. Dorsal ridge strongly toothed. 



The first dorsal fin triangular, and composed of nine robust spinous rays ; the anterior 

 minutely denticulated ; the second longest, and it ends slightly in advance and above the vent. 

 The second dorsal commences near the first, and is coterminal with the anal, containing 

 eighteen subequal and (with the exception of the first) branched rays. Pectorals equal the 

 head in length, are rounded, and comprise ten rays. There are three free articulated rays 

 adjoining, and under the base of the pectoral fins. Ventral fins as long as the pectorals, and 

 placed beneath them ; the first is a short spine, and all are enveloped in a strong membrane : 

 it comprises seven rays. Anal opposite the second dorsal, and somewhat shorter than that 

 fin : it includes sixteen or seventeen subequal rays. Caudal fin crescent-shaped, with eleven 

 entire, and four or five accessory rays on each side. 



Color. Above, on the head, back, dorsal and caudal fins, bright red. Belly, ventral and 

 anal fins, silvery, tinged with reddish. Pectorals bluish. 



Length, 8-0— 14-0. 



Radial formula, D. 9.18 ; P. 10 + 3 ; V. 1.6; A. 16; C. 11 J. 



Not having seen this fish myself on the coast of New- York, I have adopted the description 

 firom Cuvier and Valenciennes. They mention having received " a specimen from New- York, 

 " which so much resembles the T. cuculus, not only in all its generalities, but even in its 

 " most minute details, that it is very difficult for us not to consider it as the same species ;" 

 but they add, " as our specimen was not recent, it may possibly present some distinctive 

 " characters." 



There is great reason to believe that Dr. Mitchill had this species in view, when he made 

 the short note of the Polynemus tridigitatus as cited above. I find no other mention of it 

 among his numerous writings. His Polynemus searadiatus belongs to the genus Dyctalop- 

 terus. It is possible that Smith had this species in view, when he describes the Mullus bar- 

 hatus on the coast of' Massachusetts. 



The Red Gurnard is a well flavored fish, and highly esteemed in Europe. It feeds chiefly 

 on Crustacea. 



