74 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



This is a very common fish in Lake Erie, and is called at BufTalo, Sheepshead. Unlike 

 the Sheepshead of the ocean {Sargus ovis), it is a poor, dry and tasteless fish, and is scarcely 

 ever eaten. It also occurs in Lake Ontario. It does not appear to have been seen by Rich- 

 ardson in the upper lakes. It feeds on many of the fresh-v?ater shells, such as Cyclas, Palu- 

 dina, &c. Its air-bladder is very large and simple. 



THE SILVERY CORVINA. 



CoRTINi. ABamOLEUCA. 



PLATE XVm. PIG. SI. 



Silvery Perch, Bodianus argyroleuats. Mitch. Lit. and Phil. Vol. I, p. 417, pi. 6, fig. 9. 

 Le Cork blanc cCargenl. Cuv. et Val. Hist, des Poiss. Vol. 5, p. 105. 



Characteristics. The four first spinous rays of the dorsal fin successively longer. Scales 

 white and silvery. Ventral and anal orange-yellow. Length eight inches. 



Description. Body compressed ; back arched ; facial outline sloping. Snout somewhat 

 produced. Scales moderately large, rough on their margins. Lateral line concurrent with 

 the back. Eyes large. Mouth deeply cleft. Teeth very minute, disposed in a narrow band. 

 Preopercle with two small spines, or, as they may be termed, strong distant teeth, the lower 

 directed downwards ; the remainder of the margin with small serratures. Opercle ending in 

 two flat obtuse points. Lower jaw with four minute pores. 



Dorsal fin compound, deeply emarginate ; the first portion is spinous, with eleven spines, 

 of which the first is very short, the fourth longest ; the posterior portion with two short spines 

 and twenty-two soft rays, of which the anterior from the fourth are longest. Pectoral fins 

 moderate. Ventral fins beneath and slightly behind the pectorals, with a sharp spinous ray. 

 Anal fin short, higher than long, with two stout spinous rays. Caudal fin nearly even, slightly 

 rounded. 



Color. Silvery white on the body and side ; dead white or opake beneath. Irides yellowish 

 white. Second dorsal, pectorals and caudal fin, yellowish. Ventrals and anal orange-yellow. 



Length, 8*0. Depth, 3-0. 



Fin rays, D. 11.2.22; P. 17; V. 1.5; A. 2.9; C. 17. 



This fish has so much the port and habit of a perch, that it is frequently called Silvery 

 Perch by the fishermen. It is not uncommon in our waters, in the summer season. It is a 

 native of the Caribbean sea, and extends its northern range to the coast of New- York. 



