FAMILY LABRID^E. , 176 



GENUS TAUTOGA. Mitchill, Valenciennes. 



Jaws with a double row of teeth. Opercle and preopercle without spines or denticulations, 

 and with few or no scales. 



Obs. This genus was first named by Dr. Mitchill in his Report antecedent to his Memoir, 

 and subsequently adopted and characterized by M. Valenciennes.* It comprises at present 

 six species from the Indian ocean, the Red sea, the coast of Norway, and the shores of the 

 United States. But one species has yet been observed on the coast of New- York. 



THE NEW-YORK TAUTOG. 



Tautoga amesicana. 



PLATE XIV. FIG. 39. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Labrus, Black-fish at New-York. Schcepfp, Beob. Vol. 8, p. 156. 



L. americanus. Bl. Schn. p. 2GI. 



Tautoga nigtr. MiTCHiLt,, Report in part, p. 23. 



Labrus tautoga. Id. Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. York, Vol. 1, p. 393. 



The Tautog, X. Americanus. Stoker, Fishes of Massachusetts, p. 76. 



Xe Tautogut noir. Cnv. et Val. Hist, des Poiss. Vol. 13, p. 293. 



Characteristics. Bluish black, with irregular darker blotches and bands. The soft rays of 

 the dorsal fin elevated. Scales small. Length six to eighteen inches. 



Description. Body elongate, compressed, and highest just before the dorsal fin. Length 

 of the head to the total length as one to four nearly. Frontal outline arched from the origin 

 of the dorsal outline to the snout ; the dorsal outline rather straight along the fin to the soft 

 rays. Scales small, thin, adherent ; very small on the summit of the head, and upper part 

 of the opercle and preopercle ; others on the membrane of the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. 

 The scales on the body are plaited behind, minutely striated ; exposed surface very small, 

 minutely punctate with black. Lateral line slightly curved, and nearly concurrent with the 

 line of the back, going off straight through the centre of the tail. Nostrils double; the pos- 

 terior largest, oval, slightly in front of the orbit, and in a line with its upper plane ; the an- 

 terior small and tubular. Eyes moderate, and about two diameters apart. Preopercle large, 

 with a few scales ; its angle rounded. Opercle very large, emarginated above, and with a 

 wide membrane. Branchial rays five. Lips thick and very fleshy ; the lower jaw slightly 

 shortest. Teeth conic, robust, particularly in front ; a few forming an imperfect series 

 behind. 



The dorsal fin commences nearly above the branchial aperture, and in advance of the base 

 of the pectorals ; the spinous portion low, its height about one-fifth of the depth of the body, 



• " J'ai employ^, i I'ezemple de Mitchill, le nom qui se terminait, par une heureuse euphonie, en une desinence latine, pour 

 " Cure connaitre un noureau genre de la famille," etc. (Cut. et Val. Hist. Nat. da Poissons, Vol. 13, p. 292.) 



