80 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



GENUS POGONIAS. Lacepede, Cuvier. 



Two dorsals as in the preceding, or one deeply divided. A series of cirri or beards beneath 

 the lower jaw. 



Obs. The fishes of this genus are remarkable for their size, and the noise which they 

 produce under water. Scarcely any two observers agree respecting the nature of this noise. 

 The fishermen compare it, when produced by large scholes, and heard in a still night, to the 

 distant sound of drums, and hence the popular name. SchcEpff describes it as a hollow rum- 

 bUng sound, and Mitchill speaks of it as a grunting (p. 405), and at p. 411 as a drumming 

 noise. When freshly taken from the water, it sounds as if two stones were rubbed together. 

 The cause of this noise is yet unexplained. Cuvier seems inclined to believe it connected in 

 some way with the large and muscular air-bladder, although he admits that it has no external 

 outlet. I am induced to suspect it to be occasioned by the strong compression of the expanded 

 pharyngeal teeth upon each other. 



THE BIG DRUM. 



PoOONUfl CHROMIS. 

 I 

 Jjabrus chromis. Linneus. 

 Scima id. Lacipede et Schneider. 

 Labrus id. Dnan-fish. Schcepff, Vol. 8, p. 158. 

 Mugil gigas. Mitchill, Report in part on Fishes of N. Y. p. 16. 

 Scima fusca, Black Drum. Id. Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vo!. 1, p. 409. 

 S. gigas, Red Dntm. Id. lb. p. 412. 

 Le Grand Pogomas, P. chromis. Cnv. et Val. Hist. Poiss. Vol. 5, p. 206. 



Characteristics. Large. Brownish bronze, varying from blackish to reddish. Length two 

 to four feet. 



Description. Body compressed and deep. Scales large and stout, oblique, with slight 

 striae. Mouth protractile. Two flattened obtuse points on the opercle. Teeth on the jaws 

 in a band, numerous, crowded, blunt and subequal. Pharyngeals with large paved teeth. 

 Tongue smooth. Nostrils double ; the anterior circular ; the posterior subovate, and fur- 

 nished with a membrane. A row of slender vermicular cirri on each side, and ten or twelve 

 irregularly disposed about the chin. Near the chin, among the cirri, are three large pores. 

 Branchial rays seven. 



The first dorsal fin with ten stout flattened rays ; the first very short, and scarcely apparent 

 above the skin ; second and third longest, thence gradually diminishing to the last : it is capa- 

 ble of being concealed in a furrow. The second dorsal fin rises near the first (according to 

 Cuvier, continuous with it) ; its first ray short and spinous, the other soft and subequal ; with 

 the rudiment of a furrow for its reception. Pectorals large, pointed ; the tips of the ventrals 

 not extending beyond the points of the pectorals. Anal fin, with its first spinous ray, exceed- 



