114 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



are not so long ; it begins opposite tlie eighth or ninth ray of the dorsal. Caudal deeply 

 lunate, its upper lobe longest, and its rays projecting beyond the membrane. 



The liver and stomach very large ; the latter dilated, with a short appendix. It was filled 

 with the half digested remains of several fish, among which a species of Pleuronectes was 

 observed. Two large sacs above the stomach, communicated with an aperture behind the 

 vent. 



Color. All above black ; on the sides, near the lateral line, lighter. Beneath this, a dis- 

 tinctly separated longitudinal band of a slate color, extending from the pectoral fin to the tail, 

 and through its lower lobe. The parts beneath silvery white. 



Length, 32-0. Of head, S'O. 



Fin rays, D. 8.34; P. 20; V. 1.5; A. 23; C. 21. 



The Crab-eater, from which the above description is taken, was exceedingly voracious. He 

 was captured in a seine in the liarbor of Boston, and placed in a car with other fish. It was 

 soon discovered that he had destroyed and eaten every fish in the car. They were chiefly 

 the Big Porgee, P. argi/rops. It is a rare and probably a solitary fish. 



Its geographic range is very great, and it is found equally on the coasts of Africa and 

 America. On our coast it ranges from 42° north to the shores of Brazil. It occurs on the 

 coast of South-Carolina, as I find a drawing of it among the illustrations of the ichthyology of 

 that State by my friend Dr. Holbrook. It is too rare to have obtained any popular name, and 

 I adopt that proposed by my late valued friend Dr. Mitchill. If not appropriate, it may an- 

 swer for a distinctive popular name. 



GENUS LICHIA. Cuvier. 



Body compressed. The first do7~sal composed of spines, each with a membrane ; in front of 

 these, a recumbent spine directed forwards. First anal fin of two spines. Sides of the 

 tail not keeled, nor loith prominent crests. 



THE CAROLINA LICHIA. 



LiCHIA CAROLINA. 



PLATE X. FIG. 30. — (CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 



Characteristics. Body compressed ; its height to its length as one to two nearly. First rays 

 of the second dorsal and anal very long. Length one foot. 



Description. Body high, compressed. Dorsal outline regularly arched. Rostrum blunt, 

 suddenly descending in front. Scales very minute, deeply imbedded, and ascending high 

 up on the base of the tail. Lateral line arising from the upper angle of the opercle, running 

 nearly straight above the pectoral, then descending obliquely beyond the tips of the pectorals 

 to the middle of the body and tail, forming a broadly flexuous curve. Length of the head to 



