50 MONOGRAPH OF THE FRESH WATKIl III. 



longest of which arc one-third the depth of the body. The second dorsal is 

 contiguous to the first, which sends to it the membrane of its last ray. Com- 

 mencing above the vent, it is more than twice as long, and at least twice as high as 

 the first, and composed of sixteen undivided rays, the middle ones being the longest 

 and as high as the body itself on the region to which they correspond. The origin 

 of the anal is under the third ray of the second dorsal, and terminates under the 

 thirteenth. It has most generally twelve, sometimes eleven rays, which equal in 

 height, if they do not surpass, the corresponding rays of the second dorsal. The 

 caudal is sub-truncated ; its length enters five times and a half in the total length 

 of the fish. It is composed of sixteen rays, of which the live middle ones are 

 subdivided twice; the two next on each side subdivide only once; finally, the 

 others, four to the upper lobe, and three to the lower one, remain undivided, and 

 are simply articulated. The ventrals are situated exactly under the pectorals, and 

 when bent -backwards, they reach the vent, and even sometimes go beyond it. 

 They are composed of a short spiny ray, and three soft articulated and unbranched 

 ones, of which the first is the shortest, and the middle one the longest. The inser- 

 tion of the pectorals is oblique, or rather crescentrshapcd, and takes place immedi- 

 ately behind the gill opening. Their tip reaches the third or fourth ray of the 

 second dorsal. They are composed each of thirteen soft and undivided rays, of 

 which the seven lowermost are a little thicker, and extend beyond the membrane 

 which unites them. 



Br. 6. D VIII. 16. A 12. C 3. I. 5. 4. I. 2. V I. 3. P 13. 



The lateral line, slightly bent downwards on the abdominal region, re-ascends 

 gradually nearer the back, and vanishes on the last third of the length of the 

 second dorsal, that is, under the eleventh ray, sometimes even already on the middle 

 of that fin, whence it follows its course towards the tail by means of minute pores 

 after having made a sudden fall near the termination of the second dorsal in order 

 to reach the centre of the peduncle of the tail, and then run directly to the base 

 of the caudal fin. 



The color, according to Mr. Ayres, seems to vary within considerable limits : " The 

 prevailing color of the sides is light yellowish-brown, with numerous blotches of 

 darker brown, sometimes, but not always, amounting to irregular bands, which occa- 

 sionally cover the greater part of the side. The head is in general darker than the 

 body. The under side of the body, from the lower jaw to the caudal fin, is yel- 

 lowish-white. The first dorsal fin is of a light brown, with dark spots, and occa- 

 sionally with bands; the upper margin of the fin is red. The second dorsal, pec- 

 torals, and caudal, are colored like the first dorsal, except that they are destitute 

 of the red margin. The ventrals are nearly transparent. The anal is like the 

 second dorsal, but not quite so dark," (pp. 123 and 124.) 



This species is found in the States u! Mas.su husetts, Connecticut, and New York. 

 Dr. Dekay found it in Lake Pleasant, and previously, Dr. Kmmmis had it from 

 Hound Lake (N. Y.). Mr. Ayres caught his at Manchester (Ct.). Prof. Mainl 

 procured several of them from the northern tributaries of the Hudson, in Schroon 

 township, Essex county (N. Y.), near Root's tavern. 



