46 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



rays. Anal fin with eleven subequal rays, and coterminous with the dorsal. Caudal nearly 

 even, slightly lunated. 



Color. Dark brown above, passing into slate, with numerous irregularly distributed darker 

 blotches. Sides and abdomen cream-colored, with ferruginous blotches more or less conspi- 

 cuous. Lateral line brovwiish. A broad reddish brovsrn longitudinal band extends from under 

 the spine of the humeral bone, along the sides of the body, beneath the lateral line, to the 

 tail ; at its posterior extremity, it becomes a series of interrupted short lines -and spots. First 

 dorsal light-colored, with a black irregular spot between the fourth and sixth rays. Pectorals 

 very dark, with numerous transverse reddish bars. Anal and caudal fins reddish. 



Length, 9-0- IS" 0. 



Finrays, D. 9.12; P. 13 + 3; V. 1.5; A 11; C. 15. 



This species is not uncommon, and is knovm under the various popular names of Grunter, 

 Gurnard, Sea Robin, and Flying Fish. As the description of Mitchill is perfectly recogni- 

 zable, I see no reason why his name, which, although inapplicable to a Trigla, has not been 

 anticipated under Prionotus, should not be retained. The banded gurnard is seldom eaten 

 as food. 



THE WEB-FINGERED GURNARD. 



Prionotus caholinos. 



PLATE v. FIG. 15. FIG. — Uppkb side or the head. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Trigla Carolina. Linneus, Mantissa, p. 528. Fide Cuv. et Tal. 



Trigla paltnipes, Web-fingered Gwmard. MiTCHILL, Lit. and Phil. Soo. Vol. 1, p. 431, pi. 4, fig. 5. 

 Le Prionote de la Caroline, Prionotus carolinus. Cut. et Val. Hist. Poiss. Vol. 6, p. 90. 

 Web-fingered Grunter, P. carolinus. Storer, Mass. Report, p. 14. 



Characteristics. Pectoral processes dilated at their extremities ; the first ray of the second 

 dorsal crenated. Length twelve inches. 



Description. Body cylindrical, tapering towards the tail. Scales small, subquadrate, with 

 radiating strias on the concealed surface, and with denticulations on the external edges. Late- 

 ral line following the slightly concave curve of the back, from which it is • 8 distant. Head 

 depressed, abruptly declivous, with a deep depression between the eyes, and ending in a 

 bilobate snout. Each projecting lobe is furnished on its anterior margin with short blunt 

 spines, in one or more series, projecting over the upper jaw. These lobes are separated by 

 a distinct interval, are prolongations of the suborbital bones, and are covered by strong asperi- 

 ties. A distinct furrow from the infero-anterior portion of the orbit, on each side, defines the 

 internal boundaries of these bones. In this furrow, at a distance of three quarters of an inch 

 from the end of the snout, may be observed on each side the small nostrils ; and at a short 

 interval behind, the second pair. Orbits stoutly spinous in front. The spines vary in number 

 from two to four, are directed backwards, and may be considered as partially protecting the 



