FAMILY CHETODONTID^ — EPHIPPUS. 99 



THE MOON-FISH. 



EPHIPPUS GIGIS. 



PLATE XXIII. FIG. 74. — (CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 

 L'Ephippe giant, E. gigas. Cnv. et Val. Vol. 7, p. 121. 



Characteristics. Body without bands or spots. Crest of the cranium enlarged. Opercle 

 more crenulate than in the preceding. Length 15 inches. 



Description. Body oblong oval ; the outline above the branchial aperture enlarged. Scales 

 large, orbicular, and of a robust texture. Lateral line concurrent with the back. Eyes, 

 nostrils and opercle as in the preceding species. The preopercle, however, appears to be 

 more distinctly crenulated on its margin. Teeth conic, bristly, in numerous series. Branchial 

 rays, six. 



The dorsal fin composed of eight spines and 1 • 21 softer rays ; the longest rays appear to 

 be more prolonged than in the preceding species, and more arcuated on the outer margins, 

 but resemble them in shape. Ventrals with one spinous and five soft rays ; the second ray 

 filamentous, but does not extend to the anal fin. Anal with three spinous rays, and eighteen 

 soft rays. Caudal fin very wide, excavated on its margin. The first interspinous bone of the 

 anal is club or mallet-shaped. 



Color. Dark bluish brown, with metallic lustrous reflections, and without spots or bands. 

 The sides of the head tinged with lustrous green. 



Length, 15-0. Depth, 8-0. 



Fin rays, D. 8.1.21; P. 16; V. 1.5; A. 3.18; C. 17 f. 



I have never seen but the specimen in the Cabinet of the Lyceum, from this harbor ; and 

 the description has, therefore, all the imperfections arising from observations made on a pre- 

 served specimen. It is rare on our coast, the mouth of the Hudson river being probably its 

 northern limit. It was sent to Cuvier from New- York. Along the coast, it ranges to Rio 

 Janeiro, and probably still farther south. 



