136 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



GENUS RHOMBUS. Lacepede. 



Head and hody compressed. Body covered with minute scales. A small trenchant and 

 pointed blade before the vent ; a horizontal partially concealed spine before the dorsal and 

 anal fins. 



Obs. This genus had been named Peprilus by Cuvier in the second edition of his Regne 

 Animal ; the prior name of Rhombus, given to it by Lacepede, having escaped his notice. 

 This compels us to change the name of Rhombus among the Pleuronectidae. It contains five 

 species, all from the shores of America. 



THE LONG-FINNED HARVEST-FISH. 



Rbombus longifinnis. 

 plate lxxv. fig. 239. 



Chetodcn alepidtitm. LiN. Syst. Nat. 



Harvest-fish, Strvmaieus longipinnis. MiTCHILL, Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 366. 



Peprilm alepidotus. CuviER, Rdgne Animal, 2d Edition. 



Rhombus longipmnis, Le Rhombe h longue nageoires. Cov. et Val. Hist, des Poiss. Vol. 9, p. 401, pi. 274. 



Characteristics. Anterior rays of the dorsal and anal fins more than half the length of their 

 respective bases. Length seven inches. 



Description. Form oval. Head and body much compressed ; the facial line descends with 

 a curve, which becomes slightly concave above the eyes ; just anterior to the eyes, it sud- 

 denly descends, producing a blunt snout. Eyes large, nearer to the snout than to the margin 

 of the opercle. Nostrils double, adjacent ; the anterior small and round, the posterior verti- 

 cally oval. Mouth small ; the lower jaw, when extended, longest, but shuts within the 

 upper. Scales small, round, and little apparent, particularly on the fins, where they are 

 scarcely discernible ; they are wanting on the opercles and the head. Lateral line with large 

 scales ; it rises with a broad curve, but is not concurrent with the back. Linneus, who had 

 received this fish from Garden of South Carolina, not perceiving the scales, gave it the false 

 name of alepidotus. On each jaw, a row of very small slender pointed teeth. Lower edge 

 of the opercle concave. Branchial rays seven. 



The dorsal fin commences posterior to the branchial aperture ; the first three rays are 

 spinous, the anterior very short, thence successively increasing to the ninth, when they again 

 rapidly diminish to the eighteenth, after which they are short and subequal : a short spine or 

 blade recumbent in front of this fin. Pectorals long and pointed, with twenty-three rays. 

 The vent is placed between two spines, one directed backward, and the other a broad blade 

 with its point directed forward in front of the anal fin ; this latter fin resembles the dorsal in 

 size and shape. Caudal deeply forked. 



Color. " Silvery, with tints of blue, green, and iridescent ; dusky on the head ; and with 

 " inky patches on the belly towards the tail, which in certain lights appear beautifully red 

 " and purple : back bluish, with occasional clouds." Mitchill. 



